THE COMPANY'S REPLY

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 76, 30 March 1926, Page 7

THE COMPANY'S REPLY

, NO COMPLAINTS RECEIVED. Tho text of the above dispatch ma referred to the local management of the shipping company concerned. '' The Post" "7as informed that the company has received no complaint at all respecting the treatment of migrants on the s.s. Waimana. She was built specially for the carriage of migrants, and that in conformity with the regulations of the Board of Trade. The vessel is now in New Zealand, but this was the first time that anything had been heard of the allegations made in the House of Commons and referred to in the above despatch. COMMITTEE'S BEPOBT. The Interdepartmental Committee, W which Mr. Amery referred, mainly recommended :—(1) That the question of reciprocal arrangements of Empire social insurance be discussed by the Imperial Conference, especially as to uniformity of period of residence as a qualification for old age pensions; (2) that the attention of tho Unemployment Insurance Committee should be directed to tho diminution of interest in migration on the part of ' personaged about 18, when they become eligible for benefits; (3) that publicity be given to any* Dominions' schemes fo» social insurance and existing faeilitras fo- tho transfer of the migrant's insurance; (4) that there be an extension of facilities in training juveniles in the elements of rural occupations; (5) that all contributory system penaio'ieni going overseas as migrants should be credited with a lump sum equivalent to ' c years of pension, in lieu of the pension they surrender on migrating.

i The Committee, in its report, points out that the steady rise in the standard of living in the United KL.gdom has increased reluctance to migrate; also the restrictions on family migration are so serious thrt it is doubtful whether an adequate redistribution of popa* latiou is possible till facilities for families and married people are improved, In this conjunction Britain's shortage of young farm workers and domestics chiefly explains the lack of increase _I migration.

Dealing with the objection that the Dominion physical standards are toe high, the Committee emphasises the fact that the strenuousnesa of life orer* seas requires some degree of fitness, but holds that the height limit —tig—^ reasonably be' reconsidered.

The report emphasises the harmful effects of stories of unemployment received from overseas, where it is actually conflned to towns and casual workers. It declares that residence in any part of the Empire should be accepted, as a qualification for an ol* age pension. It adds: "We believe that Labour's fean} that a substantial inereaMj of migration would lower wages in the, Dominions is groundless. Indeed, ca\ the contrary, it has been doubted »—Si ther the Dominions can maintain theil present standards without a substaa* tial development of V4nstries and agriculture, for which tiro first requisite is more people."

Tho report also points out thit the high cost of ocean passages is restricting the. number of unassisted peopl* who are inclined to migrate.