MIGRANT SUSPENSION

Northern Advocate, 18 November 1929, Page 2

MIGRANT SUSPENSION

FISCAL EXPEDIENCY. DECISION JUSTIFIED. I , (Received 10.56 a.m.) LONDON, November 14. Although the British officials’ conference is incomplete, it is stated that it, is unlikely that the temporary suspension of assisted migration will affect such voluntary organisations as the “Big Brother” movement. In the House of Commons Mr Arthur Ponsonby, Under-Secrctary for the Dominions, said a (telegram had been, received from the Prime Minister oAustralia, Mr J. H. -Scullin, stating that it had -been decided to suspend tor the present the grant toward assisted passages to the Commonwealth. No communication on the subject had been received from any of the State Governments in Australia, but, Mr Pon-sonby said, under the arrangements in force the grant for assisted passages was a matter for the Commonwealth and not for the State Governments, He was satisfied that all parts of the British Empire ■were -sympathetic to migration from Britain, but.the respective Governments must necessarily reserve the right to control the (movements of assisted migrants in accordance with their local economic -conditions. The question of the suitability of the various parts of the Empire for emigration from Britain depended upon many factors. These could not be discussed within the limits of answers to Parliamentary questions.