THE SETTLERS’ INFORMATION LEAGUE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14983, 1 May 1909, Page 13

THE SETTLERS’ INFORMATION LEAGUE.

Sir, —May wo beg the hospitality of your columns to make known that at a recent meeting of tho Central Emigration Board it was unanimously resolved, —“That an association bo established for the purpose of furthering the Board’s efforts to encourage and, where possible, to assist tho emigration of suitable .and desirablo persons from the United Kingdom to the British Colonies, the association to be called “ The Settlers’ Information League” and to be constituted on the following lines: — (1) The League to consist of three divisions: —Vico - presidents, paying a minimum subscription of £5 per annum, associates, paying a minimum subscrip- . tio‘ll of £1 per annum, and ordinary members, paying a minimum subscription of 5s per annum. (2) Its primary object to be to encourage British emigrants to proceed to British Colonies rather than foreign countries. (3) Members to be entitled to receive a certificate showing their rank in the League, to correspond with the Board on all matters relating to emigration and immigration, to at- • tend tho general meetings, and to receive copies of the annual report and any literature issued by tho Board. (4) Members resident in the United Kingdom to undertake to disseminate as widely as possible tho information provided from headquarters, and to refer to tho Board any applicant for emigration whoSse case _ they consider suitable for consideration. (o) Members resident in the Colonies to undertake to stretch out tho hand of good-fellowship to tho Board’s emigrants on arrival, to give them such information as they may consider useful, and, where possible, to keep in touch with the newcomers during the first six months of their residence in the colony.” At a subsequent meeting the League w:i» formally constituted and tho Board now invite application for liiembeisliip. The subscription m each case may bo collected or paid xu full by the member. Collecting cards will, bo supplied on application to tho secretaiy. The responsibilities, of Empire are very real and very weighty, and not the least real and the least weighty ot them is that of setting before tho Motherland tho advantages of the colonies and of seeing that the colonies themselves are developed by a population British born. Some years have passed since his Royal Highness tho Prince of Wales, addressing one of tlie most representative of audiences ever gathered together in the Guildhall, and with all the freshness of tho scenes lie had just witnessed before him, referred to the importance ot developing the outlying portions of our great estate, aud reminded us that the one all-prevailing and all pressing domand in the colonies was, as it is today. .“want of population.” His Royal Highness then went on to refer to the .boundless, tracts of country yet unexplored, hidden mineral wealth calling for development, vast expanses of virgin soil ready to yield profitable crops to tho settlers, adding, “these can be enjoyed under conditions of healthy living, liberal laws, and free institutions in exchange for tho overcrowded cities and almost hopeless struggle for existence which, alas, too often is tho lot of many in tho Old Country.” One condition, and one only, his Royal Highness very truly observed, was made by the bolomcs, namely, that we should send them suitable emigrants, ,a condition winch he thoroughly endorsed. Summing up his remarks on the need of a continuous flow of suitable emigrants from the Motherland to the colonies, tho Princo said “By this means wo may still further strengthen, or, at all events pass on unimpaired, that pride of race, that unity of sentiment and purpose, that feeling of common loyalty arid obligation, which knit together, and alone can maintain, the integrity of our Empire.” More recently, Mr Donkin, speaking as Prime Minister of the Australian Commonwealth, struck the saino note at tlie Imperial Conference, and on his motion it was unanimously resolved: “That it is desirablo to encourage British emigrants to proceed to British colonies rather than to loroign countries.” Tlie idea in founding “The Settlers’ Information League is in no sense to create a propaganda, but io enable all Britons, whether their homes be in tho United Kingdom or whether they be domiciled in the King’s dominions oversea, to grasp tho true, inwardness of tlie l’rineo of Wales’s advice and to give effect to the resolution passed at tlie .Imperial Conference; in short, to stir into life what too long have been allowed to remain dry bones, to provide n common platform from which to espouse a common cause and to make a reality of Lord Rosebery’s apt definition of Empire," a. passion, ol affection and family fooling, of pride and hope!illness.” We are, etc., SUTHERLAND (President). CLEMENT KLNLOCH-COOKIO (Chairman). WILLIAM CHANCE (Treasurer.) Cromwell House; Surrey Street. Strand, W.C. March 12, 1909.