MIGRATION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 4 August 1928, Page 7

MIGRATION

EMPIRE SETTLEMENT ACT BREAKDOWN DENIED SPEECH BY DOMINIONS SECRETARY United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright Australian i'ress Association.—United Bervice LONDON, 2nd August. Tn the House of Commons, Sir John Marriott (G), calling attention to migration,, expressed perturbation at the breakdown of the Empire Settlement Act. There was Urgent need ior more rapid adjustment of population between Britain and the dominions. - 1 Colonel McDonnell (C): "We should not be so mealy-mouthed. A little friendly criticism within the family would help us to got along faster." . Mr Amery, Dominions Secretary, denied that the Empire Settlement Act had broken down. Apart from the war there would have been a decline in emigration. During the past six years, 277,000 had gone overseas under the Act. The average cost to the British Government was £ls. He wished the number was greater.. He believed it was a good investment! Arising from the reports of tho Overseas Settlement Committee and the Industrial Transference Board the Government.was proposing substantially to increase the scope of training for overseas settlement by a larger contribution than 50-50. It was hop.ed also to encourage voluntary societies and municipalities, to co-operate in training vouths. It was hoped that 2500 boys, 7000 single men, 2500 families, and 2000 single women annually would be trained on lines ensuring acceptance in tho dominions. In order to extend migration the dominions must give emigrants more than a prospect of working fas farm labourers. A representative of the department was going to tho dominions and would be instructed to see what arrangements could bo made to make advances to men to enable them to become settlers on their own account. They were trying to create an opportunity for former 'industrial workers without agricultural qualifications to go overseas and become successful settlers.