EMPIRE MIGRATION

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21718, 27 February 1936, Page 11

EMPIRE MIGRATION

* OVERSEAS SETTLEMENT BOARD APPOINTED ADVICE TO DOMINIONS SECRETARY LONDON, February 25. The Overseas Settlement Board consists of the following:—Mr Douglas Hacking, Under-Secretary for the Dominions, and Mr Alexander Water field, Principal Assistant in the Treasury (official members); Professor W. G. S. Adams, Briga-dier-General J. J. H. Nation, Mr George Gibson (a member of the General Council of the Trade Unions Congress), Mr H. J. Mitchell (president of Imperial Chemical Industries) and the Dowager Marchioness of Reading (widow of the Marquess of Reading). The Government representation has thus been increased by two unofficial members, on the recommendation of the inter-departmental committee on migration policy, presided over by Mr Malcolm MacDonald. whose recommendations are generally accepted. The board’s functions will be to advise the Secretary for the Dominions (Mr Malcolm Mac Donald) upon specific proposals and schemes for migration within the Empire, and upon any matter relating to overseas settlement which he may refer to it. It will be concerned with policy and regular administration, and the promotion of co-operation : between the Government and voluntary organisations and between the 'voluntary organisations themselves, i The general committee on overseas settlement as recommended by 'the inter-departmental enquiry is !not being constituted until the {board has begun its work. Mr Malcolm Mac Donald, questioned in the House of Commons, said he understood that a majority of {the members would have Empire i experience, or at any rate would have travelled the Dominions. Mr Neil Mac Lean (Labour): Will they have the power to hear evh dence from those who are returned home on account of unemployment? Mr Mac Donald: If they want the power no doubt they will say so. APPROVAL OF PLANNED MIGRATION (Received February 26, 8.22 p.m.) LONDON, February 25. I The establishment of an Overseas Board is favourably received by the press. “The Times” emphasises that the announcement carries a guarantee that the resumption of migration, when it occurs, will be m matter for most careful planning. The “Daily Telegraph” says that emigration can never be the haphazard business that it was.