DISCUSSED BY PRESS UNION

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 1, 1 July 1926, Page 9

DISCUSSED BY PRESS UNION

DISTRIBUTING THE WHITE POPU-

LATION.

(Australian-New Zealand Cable Assn.) LONDON, 29th June.

Viscount Burnham presided at the Empire Press Union Conference to consider the most effective Press methods of promoting migration. Mr. Leopold Amery said that the question was well stated by Mr. Bruce at the Melbourne conference, when he described it as the "problem of the better distribution of the white population." Empire migration was not designed to relieve British unemployment, that was solely Britain's responsibility, but migration was a matter of economic and political stability, of social well-being, and of Empire defence, because the Dominions no longer dwelt in regions remote from "conflict. As the world narrowed, the Dominions had come into the arena, and it was no longer practical to depend alone on Britain's defensive resources.

Major J. J. Astor questioned whether tho Press could possibly do more than it was doing to help migration.

Lord Apsley said what struck him most during his Empire tour was the success of Canada's reduction contrasted with Australia's non-success through unreduced fares.

Mr. MaeGarvie, Migration Agent for the Canadian Pacific, said that the transporting of migrants from Britain to Canada averaged 7jd per head of population.

The Hon. H. P. Colebatch, Agent-Gen-eral for Western Australia, the Hon. J. L, Price, Agent-General for South Australia, and the Hon. John Huxham, Agent-General for Queensland, advocated increased migration.

Sir Joseph Cook, High Commissioner for Australia, said that Australia got greater and better migration under the old unassisted'system. ' He protested against the hostile criticism of Australia's borrowing, which was for remunerative development, and without which progress would be impossible. This criticism was reflected in the attitude of tlio money market which loaned money to British municipalities at 1 per cent, cheaper rates than to tho Commonwealth.

The conference decided to appoint a Standing Press Committee to co-operate with the Overseas Settlement Committee.