REVIVAL SEEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 125, 30 May 1938, Page 8

REVIVAL SEEN.

EMPIRE MIGRATION.

DIFFICULTIES AT HOME.

ATTITUDE OF PARENTS.

"The revival of interest in immigration in various parts of the Empire is making itself felt in Britain," said Mr. J. T. Massey, newly-appointed principal of the KLngsley Fairbridge farm school at Pinfarra, West Australia, who wae a through passenger by the Niagara from Vancouver to-day, following a visit to England.

He expressed the view that any efforts made in the Dominions to secure suitable settlers would receive support byorganisations in Britain which were keenly interested in Empire migration, but difficulty might be experienced in

attracting the right people as the increase in employment in Britain in recent years offered opportunities which made many unwilling to emigrate. Only those who took a long view were prepared to make a complete break for the benefit of their families, and the number appeared to be diminishing. Mr. Muesey said that in addition to the Fairbridge committee and its local organisation in Australia and Canada, the Y.M.C.A., associated with the Church of England, was also actively interested in migration. Church families were now being invited to come, out to Australia and it was possible that there would be a development in that direction before the end of the present year. New Zealand Scheme? "The Fairbridge committee in London is receiving many requests to open up new schools in Av/tralia, Canada, Rhodesia and South Australia," he continued, in referring to young migrants, "and eome inquiries have been made from New Zealand. I was told that if a suitable farm were made available in New Zealand and a committte could be set up, the committee at Home would favour a scheme." There was still in the minds of some people at Home a recollection of unfortunate experiences of migrants in the post-war years, remarked Mr. Massey, and some parents were disinclined to allow their children to go overseas. They felt that the disappointments of settlement had been eo numerous that their children would have as good a chance in England. Against thie, however, the success which had attended the Fairbridge schools in the Commonwealth and some other child migration pla*3 had led many poor parents to let their children go in the hope that the jDominione would offer them a better chance in life. In Weet Anetralia there was ao lack of pood positions for boys and girls who had gone through the Fairbridge School, jthe applications from farmers outnumbering by three to one those available to take up farm or domestic work. I Selection is Strict. I The selection of the children in Britain ; was very strict, he said, and this meant that only thoee of an excellent type were chosen. They compared favourably with the average Australian child. After a year in the Commonwealth it was impossible to distinguish between the British or Australian born boy or girl. Canada was now following Australia's lead, added Mr. Massey, and had established a F-airbridge School, which he had visited at Cowichan, Vancouver Island. The intention was to accommodate 300 children there. Australia now had three schools, including one at Molong, New South Wales, and one at Northcote, 50 miles from The cost for each child worked out at about £30 annually, and slightly less than half this amount was met by private eubjecriptions, mainly from donors in the 'British jßlesi