BRITISH M.P. ON MIGRATION

Evening Star, Issue 19522, 1 April 1927, Page 13

BRITISH M.P. ON MIGRATION

“If I were to offer a suggestion, it would be that a few acres, say three to five, should be cleared ready for’the settler, for it is really disheartening to find bush, not as we have it, but red gum up to 140 ft high, and up to 30ft in girth; huge trees, all to clear before they can plough,” writes Mr W. Mackinder, M.P., in the London ‘ Weekly,’ dealing with Australian emigration. “And when townsfolk see this, no wonder they get disheartened and clear out, although the main number stay on and persevere. Of course, they receive wages during the clearing process, but I believe it would pay to clear some in readiness for them.

“ I can say sincerely that if I were ten years younger nothing would keep me from Australia, and even now I have an intense longing to return. I like her warm sun, her rich fertile land, her intensely British people, so full of pride of race. I like her slogan of ‘ A White Australia ’: hut I hope no words of mine will send people here to her cities. There are enough unemployed there; but I do feel that we might assist some of our surplus people, who would love to go to Australia, where it is crying out for them, but they must work and work hard; if they will do that they arc assured of a decent life.”