SETTLEMENT IN THE EMPIRE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 46, 17 November 1917, Page 9

SETTLEMENT IN THE EMPIRE

EMIGRATION OF EX-SERVICE MEN

PROPOSED CENTRAL AUTHORITY

In March, last tho Dominions Royal Commission presented its filial report on tho resources and trado of tho oversea Dominions, in tho courso of which tho Imperial Government was ureed to create a Central Emigration Authority to act in co-operation with tho Dominion Governments in tho regulation of all classes of emigration within tho Empire. Following up this report, tho Secretary of State for tho Colonies appointed in April an Empiro Settlement Committee to inquiro into and report upon tho question of omigrntion with special reference to "tho measures to be taken for settling within tho Empire ex-sol-diers who may desire to emigrate after the war" and "to niako recommendations as to tho stops which should bo taken bv His Majesty's Government in concert with tho Governments of the States and Dominions for tho constitution of a Contral Authority to supervise aud assist such . emigration." This committee which, was under tho presidency of Lord Tennyson. ex-Governor-General of Australia, and included tho High Commissioners and Agents-General for tho Dominions and States, together with representatives of tho Board of Agriculture, Ministry of Labour, Local Government Board, Colonial Office, and tho War | Office, recently brought up its roport. Tho committoo explains that it regarded its work "as part of tho general inquiry now proceeding as to tho problems of reconstruction likely to ariso on demobilisation," and acting upon that interpretation of its functions it devoted its energies, firstly, to the opportunities for tho settlement of ex-Service mon in tho oversea Dominions; and, secondly, tho inducements for ex-Servico men to remain in tho United Kingdom after the war. Changed Attitude To Emigration. In tho courso of its investigations tho •committee was greatly struck by the profound change which has taken place recently in tho nttit'jdo of. tho peoplo or this country towards" emigration: "Not long ago it was regarded as mpro or less a necessary evil, which, during < times of stress resulting from unemployment, was tolerated as a national convenience. Small account was taken of tho fact that to it was largely duo tho riso of thoso Dominions and colonics which to-day constitute tho British Empiro. If a subject of tho Crown chose io leave these shores, it was a matter of comparalivo unconcern to the Homo Government whether ho settled elsewhere under tho flag or in some foreign countrv.. As a result millioiiß of mon of British birth or parentage havo become eifaens of other lands. Only within tho last few years, havo tho problem!! of population begun to bo studied in tho light of Imperial necessities. Hnco the outbreak of war, from every part of tho Empiro tho children or grandchildren of those whoso enterprise or needs caused them to lcavo tho United Kingdom in past years havo rallied to tho support of the Empiro in this <.'ay of decision and stnigglo for existence, xhey havo risked their fortunes with thoso ol the Mother Country. They have shed ' their Wood with her Wood. They have sl?own that though seas separate tho Empire, and, in some respects, the interests of ono part may diftor from those of another, it is still ono and indivisible; that together wo stand or together wo fall. In short, it lias come to bo understood that tho man or woman who leaves Britain is not lost to the Empire, but iias gono to bo its stay and strengthen Orher Britain* overseas. Tho only risk of losing such a ono is when tho new home is shadowed by some other fine." What the United Kingdom is Doing. Holding tho opinion that "it is in tho interests of tho Oversea Dominions that the Empiro should not bo weakened at the heart, and that tho Mother Country should continue to provide tho 6tock from which futuro citizens should bo drawn," tho Conymitteo felt it its duty to emphasise this point, and therefore proceeded to sot out tho plans—unforr tunately, few in number—for the employment and settlement of ex-service men on tho land in England and Wales. The report states:— "So far as employment is concerned, the only proposals 60 far disclosed are: (a) Tho establishment of a minimum wage of 255. per week for agricultural labourers, (b) The guaranteo of a niinimnm prico for wheat and oats from 1917 to 1922. These aro embodied in tho Corn Production Bill now beforo Parliament. Tho committee assume, however, that if grass land to anything like tho extent of the 3,000,000 acres desired is ploughed up, there will be a demand for agricultural labourers, both skilled and unskilled, largely in excess of tho numbers employed beforo tho war. As regards settlement, it is pointed out that legislation has beon passed enabling tho Board of Agriculture and Fisheries to acquire land for a, small number of experimental small-holding colonies in England and, Wales up to a maximum of 6000 acres in all. These colonies aro intended primarily for ex-Servico men. In Scotland tho Board of Agriculture for Scotland; aro empowered to acquire an aggregate area of 2000 acres of land suitable for experimental small-holdings colonies, primarily intended for ex-Service men. Of this area, three-fourths aro to consist of arable land. Tho board are also considering, a suggestion for utilising rural villages whore small areas of suitable, land are available for intensive cultivation aud satisfactory building accommodation already exists." Tho report then proceeds to deal in detail with the opportunities for employment and land settlement in the Dominions, not only for cx-Service mon, but also for the enormous number of women now employed in posts held by mon before the war, and who will be displaced to a large extent by men after tho war. "Here," says tho report, arguments in favour of female emigration as tho essential foundation of all effectivo Empire settlement come in with full force." The committee does not think that tho emigration of ex-Service men after tho war should bo in any way divorced from tho gcnoral question of emigration. In its opinion, tho sooner ex-Servico mon, after the war, aro absorbed into tho general life of the various parts of tho Empire, tho better it will be. Except, therefore, in so far as machinery is necessary to enable ex-Servico men to obtain information as to, and to tako advantngo of, the special facilities offered to them in tho oversea Dominions, they should bo treated in the same way as other members of tho community desiring to emigrate.

New Imperial Department,

Finally, tho committee expresses itself in general agreoment with the Dominions Royal Commission that a central authority should bo set up which would absorb the present Emigrants' Information Office. The Koyal Commission recommended that the central authority should bo a Department of the Homo Government, with a consultative board on which tho Dominions should bo represented, in order to securo tho necessary co-operation betweon the Home and Oversea Governments in emigration matters. Tho committee entirely agrees as to the necessity for such co-operation; but would ■ go further than the Eoyal Commission. In the committee's opinion representatives of tho Ovorsea Dominions should bo connected with tho new authority, not in an advisory but in an executive capacity. It is taken for granted that,'whatever tho machinery set up for controlling emigration from tho United Kingdom, a British Minister, who could answer to Parliament for it, must ultimately be responsible for tho work. Subject, however, to that ultimate responsibilitity tho committee suggests that the aotual executive duties should be entrusted to a board constituted on the following lines-.-A chairman, who should bo able to devote his w'holo time to tho subject, appointed by the Minister of tho Crown responsible for the work of the board. Five representatives of the Home Government, one to be nominated by each of tho following Departments :-Golonial Office, AVar Office (temporarily), Hoard of Trade, Local Government Board, .jlinistry of Labour. Four representatives nominated respectively by the Dominion of Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, the Dominion of Now Zealand, and the Union of South Africa: one of the Agents-General for the Australian States; one of tho Agents-General for tho Canadian Provinces, and five unofficial members, of whom two should be womon.