EMPIRE SETTLEMENT

Evening Star, Issue 17920, 16 March 1922, Page 5

EMPIRE SETTLEMENT

ESSENTIAL

A PLEA POE CO-OPERATION.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright

LONDON, March 14._ Colonel Amery, addressing the Colonial Institute on migration within the Empire, said that better distribution of tho population of the Empire was the key to most of the problems facing Great Britain and the Dominions as a result of the war. Ho emphasised the need for co-operation m migration, based on tho recognition of this fact. The Dominions had now won equal recognition with Great Britain,_ but equality postulated an equal share in tho burdens as well ns the privileges. Full equality in partnership was only obtainable when the Dominions attained something approaching equality of development in regard to their reso irees. This could not be achieved by tho Dominions without population. Until that was secured the Dominions’ new status would be more theoretical than real, which tended to produce misunderstanding and frictiom Since the war the area of possible friction has shifted to regions where the Empire was weak and- vulnerable. The situation, said Colonel Aniery, _ could not be countered by increasing Britain's burdens in armaments. It could ho met in the long run only by building up new sources of British powers. Tho menace of the Pacific and the naval position would not be solvable until the Dominions there had naval forces able to keep tho position substantially intact pending tho arrival of reinforcements. This would bo obtainable only when the Pacific Dominions’ population corresponded with the task involved economically. There was no sign that Europe had begun to turn the corner. When it did, tho foreign Governments could he trusted to shut out British manufacturers by means of tariffs which were infinitely above the pre-war level. Most serious of all, tho normal growth of tho Dominion markets had been retarded by the war losiss and the cessation of immigration. Taking the average figures for the five years prior to the war, emigration from Britain between 1914 and 1920, mostly to Dominions, would have totalled 2,100,000 instead of actually 340,000. This left Britain with an increase in population of 1,000,000 above the normal rate of increase. The Empire needed redistribution of population between agriculture and industries, and between Britain and tho Dominions. Her population totalled 400 to the square mile, and in the Dominions it was six to the square mile. The only effective permanent remedy, Colonel Aniery continued, was Empire emigration in conjunction with a big scheme of land settlement in the Dominions. This was expensive, but it was the only lasting remedy. British unemployment was an Imperial weakness The various forms of relief doles in Britain were now costing £100,000,000 yearly. He was not suggesting a remedy for the temporary unemployment crisis by dumping Britain’s unemployed overseas. That" would be hopeless, disastrous, and not acceptable to any of tho Dominions. What was wanted was a permanent constructive remedy. Tho problems created by the war were solvable only by a steady, continuous, and well-organised policy of transferring suitable settlers from Britain to the Dominions.

Outlining the work of the Overseas Settlement Committee, Colonel Amery said that the Dominions’ authorities accepted only one-third of the applicants. Nevertheless, the embarkation was considerable. When the ponding applications had boon handled 50,000 ex-servicemen, making with their wives and families 100,000, would have been transferred overseas. Though a few letters of complaint and disappointment had been received, an overwhelming majority had expressed enthusiastic gratitude at the new chance given them, which made him feel that it was the best work he had ever attempted. Britain’s payment of passage money could only be temporary. A permanent scheme must be based on financial co-operation between Britain and the Dominions, He hoped shortly to introduce the Migration Bill promised in the King’s Speech. Ho realised that the success of the scheme depended on the soundness of the methods employed.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

AUSTRALIA’S FUTURE,

MELTING POT OP WHITE PEOPLES.

_ NEW YORK, March 14. The ! Evening Sun,’ commenting on the arrangement' to encourage Italian emigration to Australia, says: “ The Governments of London and Melbourne have abandoned hope of an entirely AngloSaxon Australia ir, order to make sure of a Caucasian Australia. This vast country will apparently soon rival the United States as an objective of European emigration, and is to become another melting pot of the white peoples.” The ‘Sun’ adds that the white man'has no intention of yielding one jot or tittle of his claim to every foot of Australia.—A. and N.Z. Cable.