OVERSEAS SETTLEMENT

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 4219, 16 February 1921, Page 3

OVERSEAS SETTLEMENT

COMMITTEE'S ANNUAL lIEPOKT. IMPORTANT QUESTIONS DISCUSSED. (By Elee'tric Telegraph.—Copyright. (Aust.-N.Z. Cable Association.) London, Feb. 11. The annual report of the Overseas Setlement Committee says:— The year witnessrjll improvements in the,shipping situation, lint speei.il measures are still necessary on Australasian routes to meet the situation. Complaints regarding third class accommodation are partly attributable to many who formerly travelled in a superior class, but who iiow are compelled to travel third owing to the increase in passenger rates, and partly due to the fact that passengers are less prepared than heretofore to face the discomforts of the cheapest ocean travel. There are still a considerable number of ex-service men unemployed in Britain. The policy of settlement and development, which will .stimulate production overseas, is a measure which deserves consideration, though the relief given to ex-service men will bo largely indirect. It must be remembered that industrial conditions are abnormal not only m Britain but in the Dominions. It is clearly impossible for the self-governing Dominions to receive the unemployed of the Mother Country, even if they are exservicel men. unless those Govern-, ments are satisfied the men will find suitable employment overseas. In certain quarters overseas there is still a tendency to ignore the vital importance of careful selection, and a tendency to approach the matter- too much with the object of meeting immediate labour requirements, and too little regard for the well-being of the settlers.

No policy of Empire settlement, oould be successful unless the sottiers from the Mother Country received a cordial welcome overseas. and settlers were placed on the land under an organised system of grants. "Free passages for service men and women had worked well and would be extended further during the year. The number of applicants for free passages was 64,043, covering 130,000 persons, of whom 87.000 had received free passages. A total of 5429 men and 1031 women were going to Australia and 3547, men and 308 women to New Zealand. The total commitments to date were £279,000: The total sum at. the disposal of the committee was £375,000. Owing to the war, the excess of females in the United Kingdom, between the ages of 15 and 45 was 1,250,000, compared with 500,000 in 1911. The committee strongly favoured the encouragement of the settlement of women overseas by State aid. Many women who were not prepared to take up domestic service in the United Kingdom were prepared to go overseas, where service might lead to happier and fuller conditions of life than in the Mother Country. The overseas settlement of poor-law and other suitable children would be highly beneficial, ff the West Australian experiment with Dr. Barnjj/do was successful it was hoped a. similar scheme would be developed elsewhere in Australia and New Zealand.