MIGRATION.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18681, 3 May 1926, Page 12

MIGRATION.

INCREASE HOPED FOR. ; REDUCED FARES NEEDED.

(by. cable—press association—comeight.) (AUSTRALIAN AND X.Z. CA3LE. >SSOCIATO)ir.) f LONDON, April 30, "There- are hopes, and indeed indications'tliat, partly aa a result of the ; new- passage and land settlement agreement with Canada,, Australia, and New Zealand, the outflow of sfettleira'' to; those .countries will shortly increase,''' declares tlx© annual report of the,Over-' seas Settlement Committee. • "Detailing the various assisted-,,pass-age .'rates; of which the dearest'are-to Australia, and the'cheapest t<j'Canada, the report .emphasises- Canada's example, ; and expresses a hope that' similar cheap rates will be made avail-; able when there are temporary openings in the other Dominions. It would bea mistake to underestimate the importance of cheap rates for assisted passages, which are now restricted-.to', a [definite class, including farm workers and domestics,' but generally, these'cannot be readily-spared fromßritain. Air unassisted to or New Zealand costs £37, and to Canada £lB. It-is obvious that few-'in Britain, es« pecially families, are at present able to pay the fare and the incidental expenses. Therefore it is of the greatest importance that the rates should be reduced to a minimum. While agreeing that-strenuous life overseas requires a high.physical standard, and that there is no'reason to suppose that, present standards are unduly high, it would seem desirable, {he . committee says, not to adhere too rigidly to fixed standards of- height and weight, because improved physique, follows the transfer to healthier-and freer surroundings.' The committee "would welcome a liberal and sympathetic--in-' terpretation by .the Dominion, selectors. The committee agrees with the ;Domiuions' -new that the best land training can be acquired overseas, but thinks that there are many advantages in a brief testing and training here.