EMPIRE SETTLEMENT

Evening Star, Issue 17955, 28 April 1922, Page 5

EMPIRE SETTLEMENT

DEBATE IN COMMONS.

GOVERNMENT’S PROPOSALS.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright,

LONDON, April 26. In the House of Commons Colonel

Amory, in moving the second reading of tlio Empire Settlement Bill, pointed out

that a largo proportion of cx-scrviro men who bad emigrated under the earlier Overseas Settlement Committee’s scheme would probably have emigrated of their own accord if the war had not broken out. A considerable percentage of ex-service men who ’were sent out now wore progressing well towards substantial prosperity.' If they had remained the majority would certainly have needed employment benefits. The cost of their passage, therefore, was well spent. The present Bill enabled the Colonial Secretary and the Overseas Settlement Committee to co-operate with both the overseas Governnieuts responsible and private organistions in an approved emigration scheme. It. should be remembered that Great Britain had a surplus of 1,750,(1C0 women, while the shortage, of women in the dominions was prejudicing their facial life. The first year’s Imperial expenditure, was limited to £1,125,000; £2,000.000 would make possible the assisting of 60,000 to 80.000 persons yearly. Before long be believed that the House would regard Hie amount as quite inadequate, but in view of the present financial difficulties and witli the object of gaining experience ho had prepared a substantial instalment of a larger future policy. «Thc Impcrinl_expenditure was contingent upon dominions ’ undertaking a considerably larger expenditure on land settlement. The direct settlement of men on thc > land must ho the foundation of any policy of the economic regeneration of the Empire. After the first' year the Imperial expenditure would be £3.000,000 annually, of which about £I,COO,CCO would he devoted to the provision of passages on a half-and-half basis with the dominions. Colonel Amery commended the Bill as a first step towards the Empire's economic recovery. Mr J. R. dynes pointed out that while some might support the Bill under the impression that emigration would relieve the burden of unemployment, as a matter of fact the Bill did not tondi the mot cause of unemployment. He feared that Colonel Amery would be disappointed at the ultimate consequence of the Bill’s working. He: could not accept Colonel Amery's conclusions that it was advantageous to neglect trade opportunities in Europe in order to cultivate closer economic trade relations with the dominions.

He honed Hint no attempt would bo made in subsidise, private agencies such as shinpine: companies, which were merely pecuniarily interested in eniiyrnf;nn. Ho ,Til-red whether Hie dominions’ Labor organisations had been consulted. Sir Donald M'Lcan said that be hoped that, the free passages to ex-service men would remain open another year and that frnidulcut emigration agents, drawing fanciful pictures of the conditions really existing in tho dominions should bo swept nwnv. Tho removal of bind restrict inns in Great 'Britain would mitigate the need for the present measure. Sir Newton IMoore expressed disappointment at tho smallness of the first year’s expenditure. Sir Frederick Tomwr said that the Bill offered only a slight immediate contribution towards a solution of H>c unemployment problem, but eventually it would prove a great factor in that connection. Sir Frederick Young slated that Australia afforded great opportunities for settlement if the exne-plituve wove, confined to schemes definitely offering emigrants a proper livelihood. Sir H. Hood favored an extension of bov emigration. Colonel J. C. Wedgwood said that the Laboritcs conld not. lie enthusiastic regarding tho emigration of people to Australia when they could more cheaply bo enabled to take up small holdings in Groat Britain. Manor Wood, replying to the debate, admitted that tho Bill was not a panacea for all industrial ills, but it would ease the situation by giving people opportunities of re-starting their lives elsewhere, and it would benefit home trade and commerce. The Bill was rend a second lime.—A. and N.Z. Cable.