EMIGRATION

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 181, 28 April 1922, Page 5

EMIGRATION

EMPIRE SETTLEMENT SCHEME IMPERIAL GOVERNMENTS EXPENDITURE BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION. —OOPYBIOHT. (Rec. April 27, 5.5 p.m.) / London, April 26. * In the House of Commons Colonel Amery, in moving the second: reading of tho Empire Settlement Bill, pointed out that a large proportion of exservice men who emigrated under the earlier Overseas Settlement Committee’s scheme would probably have emigrated of their own accord if the war had not broken out. A considerable percentage of ex-service men thus sont out were now progressing well towards substantial prosperity. If. they had remained -in England! a majority would certainly have needed unemployment benefits, and tho cost of their passages was therefore well-spent. The present Bill enabled the Colonial Secretary and the Overseas Settlement Committee to co-operate with both overseas Governments and responsible and private organisations in an approved emigration scheme. It should be remembered that Britain had a surplus of a million and three-quarters of women, while there was a shortage of women in the Dominions, prejudicing tneir social life. The first year’s Imperial expenditure was limited to £1,125,000 to £2,000,000. This would make it possible to assist 60,000 to 80,000 persons yearly. Before long it was believed tho House would regard the amount as quite inadequate, but in view of the present financial difficulties, and with the object of gaining experience, ho had prepared a substantial instalment of a larger future policy. The Imperial expenditure was contingent upon the Dominions undertaking considerably larger expenditure on land settlement. Direct settlement of men on the land must be the foundation of any policy of economic regeneration .of the Empire. After the first year the Imperial expenditure would bo three millions annually, of which sum about, a million would be devoted to tho provision of passages on. a half-and-half basis with the Dominions. He commended the Bill as a first step towards the Empire’s economic recovery and an economical unprovocative measure of Imperial defence. Mr. J. R. Clynes pointed out that while some tnight support the Bill under the impression that emigration would lelieve the burden of unemployment, as a matter of fact the Bill did not touch the root cause of unemployment. He feared that Colonel Amery would bo disappointed as an ultimate consequence of the Bill’s working. Ho could not accept Colonel Amery’s conclusions that it would be advantageous to neglect trade opportunities with Europe in order to cultivate closer economic trade relations with the Dominions. Ho hoped no attempt would be made to subsidise private agencies like shipping companies, who were merely pecuniarily interested in emigration. He asked whether Dominion Labour organisations had been consulted. Mr. N. McLean hoped that free passages for ex-service men would! remain open another year, and that fraudulent emigration agents drawing fanciful pictures and conditions that really did not exist in the Dominions would be swept away. The removal of land restrictions, in Britain would mitigate the need for the present measure. Sir Newton Moore expressed disappointment at the smallness of the first year’s expenditure, when already three definite Australian schemes were ready to be launched. Sir Frederick Young said the Bill offered only a slight immediate contribution towards the solution of unemployment. ~ Eventually, if a long view prevailed, it would prove a’gropt factor in that connection. He stated that Australia afforded groat opportunities for settlement, if the expenditure was confined to schemes definitely offering the emigrants a proper livelihood. Mr. J. Hood favoured an extension of boy emigration. Colonel Wedgwood said Labourites could not be jenthusiasttic regarding emigrating people to Australia when ''they could more cheaply .be enabled to take up small holdings in Britain. Major Wood, replying to tho debate, admitted that the Bill was not a panacea for all industrial ills, but it would ease, the situation by giving people opportunities for remaking their lives elsewhere, and would benefit homo trade and commerce. The Bill was read a second time. — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.