CHILD MIGRATION.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17742, 19 April 1923, Page 13

CHILD MIGRATION.

BRITISH WOMEN'S PATRIOTIC

LEAGUE. (raoii oue own correspondent.) LONDON, 3iarch S. The British Women's Patriotic Lensj:;o is an organisation which set;o.:i to educate public opinion on ti-< nocfissity of patriotism in a practical form. In the present state of Great Britain, when unemployment is a m: rcr di' paramount importance, it is only natural tnat the league snouicl be ijiieresung itse.t in ling,adon within ihe Not Jong ago, eoionci L. •:>. Amery lectured before the League, and tins week Sir iienry Lowau (.v-iio h;is a member of parliament until tl\.last election, and whoso wife is chairwoman of the League), spoke on '■Child Migration." The meeting took place at the Lar.gham Hotel, Lady Sydenham being in the chair. A point brougnt out in the discussic " , that followed was the necessity for personal interest in migration, and as showing that the League had alreadyi done- something in this direction, Lady Cowan stated that two members had each arranged to contribute £2O a year for tbo maintenance of two children who had been sent to "West Australia. Anothci speaker pointed out that by an Act passed in the 23th year of Queen Victoria's reign, the Guardians of the Poor might contribute ClO to any person who desired to migrate. This was a privilege that was seldom made use of, and it behoved the. ratepayers to see that deserving people took advantage of the law. It was not enough to pay for a passage in these days, but -with the assistance held out by the British Gaveriiinent and-by the Dominions themselves it would help considerably in bringing people to a decision. The Board with which lie was associated had just paid £OO to a man and wife and four children on tbo eve of sailing overseas. The speaker maintained that a proportion of every family should <ro abroad. If that principle were inculcated in the minds of the- people it would be better" for the Empire. Referring to the opposition displayed by certain people attached to the Labour Party to migration proposals, Sir Henry Cowan said their deliberate object was to bring about unrest and discontent in this country solely to foster revolution. According to tlio register of unemployment there we're 200,000 young peoplo who had left school, but were unable to obtain emand 750,000 boys and girls wore leaving school each year, and a large proportion of theso would be ■ '•• demned to unemployment, and the demoralisation that would follow the receipt of doles which they had novor earned. Sir Henry outlined all the schemes in Australia for dealing wiuj juveniles from 14 to 18, and ho read reports from many sources .showing how well the young migrants were treated, and the success and happiness mey had found. Fifty boys sent to New iSouth Wales last spring had already banking accounts amounting in ail to £.IOO. ih-e statement that they were tearing children from their mothers' arms was nonsense. They did not want to send children out who had hajyjy homes, but there were thousands of orphans and children who were kept by cue Boards of Guardians who would never have a chance in this country. In the Dominions they would have opportunities of forming personal attachments which they could never have here.

Another speaker suggested that such institutions as the Barnardo Homes should haive branches in the Dominions, so that the children could' grow up in tho countries where they would subsequently have to earn their living.

Sir Henry Cowan said that it would encourage the Dominion Governments to do more if the people here put clown more money. Every child who left England was in n way a direct advnntfifc, but it would bo some years before the Dominion which received that child had ceased to be financially responsible for it.