EMPIRE MIGRATION

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 47, 25 February 1937, Page 9

EMPIRE MIGRATION

DISCUSSION IN VIEW

MR. MACDONALD'S PROMISE

DEBATE IN COMMONS

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, January 27.

A promise that the whole question of Empire migration will be discussed with Dominion Ministers at the time of their stay in England during the Coronation celebrations was given by Mr. Malcolm Mac Donald, Dominions Secretary, to the House of Commons when he spoke upon the Empire Settlement Bill this week. The House has taken but little outward interest in the Bill, and two debates have been listened to in silence by a small party of members. The reason for this is apparently that the Bill can do little now or for years, and is simply a preparation against the day ■when the Dominions will say, "We are ready to welcome assisted migration." Mr. Mac Donald declared that the question of migration did not receive the public attention that it deserved, and he forecast that if the British did not develop the Dominions somebody else would. Since 1930, except for a certain class, migration had completely ceased. The depression was lifting in every one of-the Dominions and industry was beginning to revive, while unemployment figures were steadily falling. That recovery had been so well maintained that one hoped that if it continued the time was not far distant when the Dominions would be ready to accept fresh reinforcements of migrants from this country.

The decision when the time was ripe for migrations to start again was one for the Dominions themselves. The Bill was part of the process of preparation for that time. Sometimes it was suggested that the Dominions were longing to welcome new settlers and that it was only the hard-hearted and close-fisted United Kingdom Government that kept them back. The fact was that the Canadian and New Zealand Governments were not yet ready to welcome assisted migrants'. IMPORTANCE OF INDUSTRIES. If the Dominion's were one day to have a large thriving population which they would be capable of supporting it was not going to be simply or even mainly by the development of their agricultural and pastoral industry. It was not gong to be even by the multiplication of dairy farms or mixed farms. The .agricultural and pastoral industries in these days of machinery and modern methods of cultivation were not capable- of supporting large additional populations. . Further progress could only be by "the steady development of manufacturing industries. In Canada and Australia many of these industries were already established, and as time went on more and more secondary industries would become economic.

One of the main provisions of the Bill is that the British Government is authorised to spend £1,500,000 a year on migration schemes. Mr. Mac Donald assured the House that if schemes came forward in which the Government would desire to participate, and which would cost more money than was provided under the £1,500,000 .limit, they would take the first opportunity of introducing further legislation. At present, the Government could not give a larger^ percentage grant towards any scheme than 50 per cent. It had been their experience that the voluntary societies which played an extremely, important part in schemes of assisted migration had found the sources from which they drew their funds running a little dry for obvious reasons. But as these societies must continue to play a vital part in any assisted migration schemes the Government proposed •to amend the existing Act so that they could come to the aid of efficient societies to the extent of anything up to a 75 per cent. instead of a 50 ■per cent, grant. He could,not say at present whether the Government" would wish to participate in or encourage schemes under which children were boarded out with families in one of the Dominions. It was not a matter of practical politics at the present time; before he made up his mind he would need to consult the Em-, pire Settlement Board. If the Government was to contemplate the revival of such a system it would not only do so provided that there were adequate safeguards for the well-being of the children, such as were proposed by the Inter-departmental Committee. LABOUR OPPOSITION. Opposition to the Bill was not lacking despite the small attendance of M.P.s. Its rejection was moved by a Labour member, Mr. Luii>i. He refused to "shovel little children overseas," and declared that he was totally opposed to this "detestable and inhuman suggestion." Many poor law children who migrated under previous schemes merely became little drudges. To talk of the possibility of migration at an early date was sentimental humbug..

Another Labourite, Mr. F. J. Bellenger, described the bill as a "milk and water" Bill. The world was changing fast, and he did not believe that it would be possible for this country to continue its old Imperialistic ideas for ever.

"If countries like Germany and Italy are shut out from the Dominions and colonies," he added, "there will be only one end. The Secretary for Foreign Affairs has warned the House; it will end in war."

The Dominions Secretary was sterile of ideas for the populating of the Dominions, and he and the Government were barren of any initiative and policy. The Dominions Secretary could do something far more effective towards taking the initiative in discussion with the Dominions on this matter. Germany and Italy had expressed their determination to havu colonies, by negotiation if possible, but if not by negotiation then by other means. This Bill would do nothing to stop them if they proceeded to adopt more drastic measures to secure colonies.

Sir Robert Young (Labour) asked why the refugees from countries like Germany, Poland, and Russia, and the Jews particularly, in view of the troubles in Palestine, should not be encouraged to settle in the open spaces of the British Empire. "I am sure," he added, "that they would be quite as happy and 'contented and as successul there as in any other part of the world."

Another Labour member, Mr. de Rothschild, however, declared that the policy of the Labour Opposition was nugatory and showed a complete misunderstanding of the aim of those who advocated emigration. Migration of British stock to the Dominions would help to establish world peace on a firmer basis by populating the Dominions with men and women firmly grounded in democratic traditions. Did Britain wish to see the political creeds of Germany, Russia, Italy, or Central Europe obtaining influence in the Empire? If not it was time Britain looked to the matter.

Mr. Mac Donald, replying to the debate, remarked that nothing he had said in his speech v/as intended '.o mean that the home Government should "lie low and say nothing" on this matter and wait for the Dominions to dO all the talking. "We have views on this matter," he said, "and we

ought to present them to our colleagues in the Dominions. We have put forward our views, but my point is that we ought not to proceed, and we cannot proceed, to carry our views into practice unless we get the consent and co-operation of the Dominion authorities to them. It is in that sense that we must vait for their word 'Go.' When the Dominion Ministers come over here later in the year for the Imperial Conference there will be opportunities of discussing this matter with them so that we can have a thorough exchange of views on this very important question. It will not bs our fault if the opportunity is lost of a very full discussion on the whole question."