The Grey River Argus. THURSDAY, January 25, 1934. NEW EMIGRATION SCHEMES

Grey River Argus, 25 January 1934, Page 4

The Grey River Argus. THURSDAY, January 25, 1934. NEW EMIGRATION SCHEMES

Three schemes to transfer people from the Northern to the Southern Hemisphere are at present mooted. One is that of Japan to underake colonisation in Chile, where, the Japanese are also seeking an increase of reciprocal trading. Tlie Chilian Consul General for Australasia declares, howeve:', that there are in that country numerous unemployed, and therefore no great, scope, exists at present for immigrants. South America, where Japan is extending her markets, must eventually, whether from Europe or Asia, absorb new population, for its great resources are as yet very largely undeveloped. Lately a British Peer fitted out an expedition of colonists for Argentina to grow opium and other drugs for export to Europe. Brazil appears to be the likely destination of ten thousand Christian Assyrians whom the Arabs of Irak have been ruthlessly persecuting, although Britain should have protected them, because they stood by her in the Great War, out of which they came the worst off of all of the peoples engaged. This once powerful people were by the Turks sought as allies, but they courageously withstood strong Ottoman forces, though left without means of attack; and forced their way through to Persia. Out of about. 75.000 fewer than 50,000 got through, and many of their men joined the British forces, with whom they fought until the armistice. Britain had been entrusted with their protection, but she also was associated with the Arabs and the latter took advan-

tage of this, slaughtering the Assyrians. and abducting their

women and girls in great numbers. There remain ten thousand capable of making a start in a new land, being denied a home in the country where they were pow. erful as long ago as 500 8.C., and have ever since lived, until the remnant have had to flee from the ancient foes of Christainity into the mountains of the Caucasus. At last the League of Nations took up their case, and found Brazil to be ready to show them hospitality. It is to be hoped that the project is successful. Brazil has already absorbed large German and other colonies, and the conditions there should suit the Assyrians. What is of more immediate interest, however, to this and other British countries, is the revival in Britain of the agitation to migrate the unemployed by the hundred thousand to the Dominions. There is now before the House of Commons a motion supported by 300 members in this connection, under the heading of a redistribution of the Empire’s

population, while a cable mentioned 150,000 emigrants as a first instalment. Canada has

scarcely extended the idea a welcome by stating that nothing has officially been communicated, but. despite the sbrry experience of migrants in Victoria and elsewhere there, Australia will b< | counted on to co-operate. The reason for this anticipation is that her High Commissioner. Mr S. Bruce, in his quest for financial accommodation at London, has thought to assist loan conversion by very indefinite suggestions that in return Australia should obsorb many of those for whom Britain- can no longer-find work. As a matter of notorious fact, Australia neither now nor in the immediate future can give anything except relief -work to hundreds of thousands of her own men. Anybody who talks in this country of renewed immigration Is likely to get as poor a hearing as the British Prime Minister was given in Leeds this week when !>*■ set out to show that his Govern- I meat had assisted the working I class. To emigrate that class in the largest possible numbers would probably be the sort of assistance, his Government would prefer above all others to extend but there are the workers in countries to which they might be sent that will have to be considered more seriously to-day than when I British emigration was in vogue I before the slump. If the promot-' ers of the agitation wish to make headway, they are starting at the wrong end in agitating in . Britain for a redistribution of population. They should come out to j the Dominions and show how the I newcomers are to be absorbed, i They might tell our Government and Unemployment- Board how.to ! do their job. They at least might i show, how to get fifty or sixty, i thousand num off the dole, if only to make way for newcomers: because were the wages tax put up | to 2s. there might be a mild protest, such as might seem to render immigrants scarcely so welcome as they might expect to be after reading the propaganda before their departure. Each country, of course, may be left to speak for itself. Some may recommend South America, and some may not, but as far as New Zealand is concerned, it is long odds that the Government will not run the risk of resuming immigration for a long time to come.