MIGRATION AND SETTLEMENT.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20083, 12 November 1930, Page 15

MIGRATION AND SETTLEMENT.

SALVATION ARMY MEMORANDUM.

APPEAL fo IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

(PROM OWE rOP.HESPOKDeNT.)

LONDON, October 3. Commissioner David C. Lamb,of the Salvation Army, has prepared !t Memorandum on Migration and Settlement. Copies of this are being sent to all the statesmen taking part in the Imperial Conference.

The present condition of affairs, he. WtJ-s, with thoUSahds of able-bodied men unu women "unemployed at home afid Vast rich areas oversea Undeveloped, ; s a danger and k Scandal. It is, moreover, a reproach not only to professional statesmen, but also to the eomihdhseiise of the British race. SUrely a people who continue to make so little use Of the unexampled heritage which is theirs, . do not deserve—and cari scarcely justify—any claim to its possession. Redistribution of the population of the Empire is not primarily a political, econdnHleji nOr tiVeii an Imperial issue, but a huniah bUsiiiess proposition. "The human aspects of the subject," O'jtnintluder Lahib continues, "should nave been considered paramount, and political exigencies subordinated to the huindil tieedfe, While economic theories could surely have been restated or revised if necessary. I leetjgriise there f«" ho ohe SdlUtioii; ho royal road; fao sho.t cuts. There must be some disturbfenct of present conditions, let us have it--as, little possible, but ns much lis may be necessary. "It is morally wrong to keep of oUr people in idleness, ana what is morally wtfoiig eannSt be economically fight; what IS ftior&lly fight Ought to Be cc6n6mic&lly aouild. "Jfu ofie wOuld wifeh to transplant iaiemploydbles 6r unfit or unsuitable personal or to undertake work which would riOt be jprdfitable to the Dominion 1 ot Colony, but might aggravate any social Or Sconbifiie condition overseas, the suggestion that unemployment and emigration Should not be mentioned together lest it give ofifehee lii the Dominions overseas Can bo dismissed. For one thing, it reflects on the jgood sense of 'our fellow-citizens ovorseas. Moreover, It is a fact thilt hitherto they have absolutely controlled the movement of financially assisted migrants—and knoiv thai they do so. This control, however, should be beneficially exercised, and if any movement on a large scale were undertaken, I would regard as Vital the setting-up of a Deporting Authority on which tlio Home Government would be represented, so that all partiefe to the transfer of a migrant Should be pditieft, to aiiy proposal for retrahsfer. Oiily in this way tan the possibility of. political friction arising frtjm disgruntled migrants be removed." The Real Danger. Tbij real diiiignr. Commissioner Laihb continues, lies in the absence of ft big) cotnmonsense, far-sighted policy bf v lne proper difefcribution of th(j manpower tjf the ICtrtpiro. The irespective States offfcr of development. Well-considered schemes 111 which the Motherland wOuld be an active partner might well be embarked upon, and the political danger would almost disappear. At any rate, the zrowltig "ivorld-t'biiScioiiisiiesss" would •ibt fed ko. pf-drtiiriehii , 'The white races Vyill continue td lead if they prove themselves Worthy and capable to lead, hut hbt dtherwisfe: Obviously, the natiyti arid eHloUfred races ftiUfet bo despiritually j socially; inteilectimllyi and economically. .. ISuccfesSfiil settlement tnufct fulfil tliirfeO ebfiditioris. It ihil&t be (n) helbful to tlie individual; (b) acceptable fcd thfs OM Land; and (c) ,advantng«iius to tlie new country. Failure in any one respect will mean Failure in jdl. Groiip Mettlemeht is thfc tt'tty Out fbr the present gieiifet-atioh; Tije nature df the problem calls for a 10* to 20 yoiars' programme, and having regard to the arrears art intensive effort is an imperative duty. The. JCmpiro Settlehierifc Atit, of Iwhich Expires in viiars' tirriej should be amended ahd exteridod now. The 60-50 cOntfibutiwtt prihcifilfi Of the Act sholild be modified; the Secretary of State shdUld lie «fnpow§r<«a to blsir the whole, or any pitrt; of the expeiists of any approved schenies, and should appoint au | Empire Settlement Board bf five pfersOfls to carry flufc, undgF lii« cbntrdl. j fcntj provijiionS of tftfe amended Act. ! Baiiknip Economies. "A_ comparative study in 'investments*' " concludes Coirimissioner Lamb, "disclpfeOs that £2OOO in giltedged securities is the sum necessary to give a return rfequired to maintain a man and his family on the scale perth§ authorities (as things are at present, in the permanent endowment of idle— West Australian sinking of £2OOO gives a family happily settled oh the land On an economic basis—itotuAl fthd potential wealth ttfodiioers.' I don't kiiow how r?."*.. itnMiirned increment ihhy have been takeri ihto account in determih!he the rtftiounfc to be iVritteri Off. Prom .t-femaitte 3s a vfiluttMe Btddftt Gil the other Kahdi tt-llftt iisi th.fe .unearned increment' oh tHe £1,000.000,000 oxtiended in maintaining abl<>-bodied men and women in idleness sirice the Armistice? No.h ,r J|? 1 Aye—-worse than Hothins—a hentrtg© of niofft], spiritual, and physical tort-Tire, which feurely goes to prove our present-day economics are bankrupt!"