ATTRACTIVE proposals

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 12 March 1928, Page 5

ATTRACTIVE proposals

SETTLEMENT IN BRITISH. COLUMBIA. UNDESIRABLES TO BE KEPT OUT. BY CABI.B—PRESS ASSOCIATION- COFVRKJIIT OTTAWA, March 9. An immigration policy involving the addition of two million people to the population of British Columbia and the prairie provinces within the next ten years was advocated in Parliament today by General A. D l . Mcßae, Conservative member for Vancouver. His proposals contemplate the settlement of fifty million acres by three hundred thousand farmers. These, with their families and the consequent development, would add two million. It is suggested that the Government furnish a free homestead and 160 acres of ground, and an advance of five hundred dollars to each settler to get started. No payment is to be demanded during the first five years, and then thirty years will be granted to pay off the indebtedness. The total cost to the country would be three hundred million dollars, which would be raised by the issue o.f land bonds. General Mcßae suggested that all partners of the British migration scheme should jointly work out an equitable basis for a guarantee bond, with interest, over a. period of twenty years. That the British Government inaugurate preliminary training at home, eliminating misfits, was also advocated, and the transfer of part of the dole system funds as bonuses to induce farmers to train prospective migrators was suggested. “I want to see undesirable races absolutely barred, let the price be what it may,” he declared.