EMIGRATION TO THE COLONIES.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXV, Issue 3717, 17 June 1869, Page 6

EMIGRATION TO THE COLONIES.

A movement in favour of emigration to the colonies (Canada, Australia, &c M ) aud to America has recently commenced, which promise* great suoceso towards mitigating the evila attending the present lamentable state of the poor of London and the Country. Emigration committees are to be formed throughout the country, and more especially in the distressed district?, to diffuse information upon emigration matteri to the colonies. A large meeting was held at Exeter Hall on Monday evening, the 12bh April, to consider the question of a national system of emigration. The first resolution was moved by Mr. Torrens, M. P., to the effect that emigration was one of the best methods of relieving the misery that exists. Both he and Mr. McArthur, formerly member of the Legislative Council of Adelaide, gave favourable accounts, life, <fee., in Australia. The latter proposed that the colonies should provide one-third of the means required, the! Government should give another third, and that the remaining third should be provided by the emigrants themselves, or by private means. Lord Alfred Churchill movei the second resolution. He said that while the exports of British manufactures sent to the United States were only on an average of 17s per head of population, to Canada they were to the extent of £3, to Australia £8, and New Zealand £10. Deputations were afterwards appointed to wait upon the Home and Colonial Secretaries. Emigration to Canada hai commenced in real downright earnest, by both prirate and Government means. The Government will convey any of the recently discharged Dockyard workmen, as also any hired artisam still employed, to Canada in one of her Majesty's troop-ships, on condition that each person possesses £2 15s. In the House of Lords on Friday, the 16th April, Lord Houghton called attention to the question, of emigration, observing that labour was a* necessary now as formerly for the development both of Australia and British North America. To provide meaus for conveying paupers to the colonies, he proposed to empower the Poor Law Guardians to raise money by a rate with a Government guarantee, and that if any difficulty remained that it might be overcome by a Royal commission.