MIGRATION PROBLEM

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 26 January 1926, Page 5

MIGRATION PROBLEM

AN INADEOUATE ACT. THE FINANCIAL ASPECT. COLONIAL INSTITUTE ACTIVE BY CABLE-FBE3S ASSOCIATION-COP HEIGHT LONDON. Jan. 24. The Colonial Institute has memorialised the Prime Minister, Mr S. Baldwin asking him to receive a deputation on the subject of the promotion of emigration. , , ~ Mr Baldwin delegated the matter to Mr L. S. M. Amery, Secretary for the Dominions, who will receive the deputation on Monday. The memorial declares that the Overseas Settlement Act is entirely inadequate, and a new Act is urgently neocssary, firstly, because of tho stipultitioii that the overseas Government must iiay equal shares with the Imperial Government of the cost of any approved scheme, which, though excellent in theory, must break down in practice, owing to the snial] population of the Dominions finding it impossible to provide money to finance migration schemes on such a comprehensive scale. Secondly, mjsi®r the Act the rate of progress is ti/d slow for the effective handling of the migration prob'em. Thirdly, there should be direct co-operation by means of Imperial .representatives overseas similar to the present Overseas Committee’s representative of Australia. Further, there was no doubt that a large number of people were willing to migrate, but were unable to do so under the present conditions. The memorial nweeds: “If the Government agrees to hear the whole cost of the settlement schemes, it is suggested that the conditions of such schemes should provide for a gradual repayment by the settlers of moneys advanced by the Imperial Government. In the case of migrants who do not settle on the land, voluntary societies must pledge themselves to secure repayment.” The memorial urges that the .repatriation of migrants should not be made too easy. It- also urges thcit there should be a Home land settlement scheme as favourable as the overseas. Lords Stnrdey and Alderlv will introduce the deputation anil Mr Christopher Turnover will be the chief exponent of its ideas. . ... Tt is expected that Mr Amery will make a most important pronouncement. —A. and N.Z. Assn.