MONDAY'S SESSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19469, 27 October 1926, Page 13

MONDAY'S SESSION.

MEETINGS OF COMMITTEES. OVERSEAS SETTLEMENT. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 9.30 p.m.) LONDON. Oct. 25. The official report of this morning's session of the Imperial Conference says the delegates completed a discussion on Sir A listen Chamberlain's review of foreign affairs. Mr. W. L. Mackenzie Kuig (Canada), Sir. S. M. Bruce (Australia), Mr. J. G. C'oates (New Zealand), General Hertzog (South Africa), Mr. W. S. Monroe (Newfoundland), and Mr. K. O'Higgins (Irish Free State) took part in the debate. As in the case of Sir Austen's statement the most complete secrecy is to be maintained and no communique was issued. The delegates were sworn to silence. After the foreign affairs discussion the conference got down to the practical step of apportioning the work among committees, including a special committee of Prime Ministers, with the Earl of Balfonr as chairman, to examine in detail questions which affect inter-Imperial relations arising from the agenda of the present conference. Another special committee with Mr. L. S. Amery, Secretary of States for the Dominions, as chairman, ■will consider Imperial communications other than air communications. Several Committees Set Up. Other committees were appointed as follows: On nationality (including the question of the nationality of women) and passports. Chairman: Sir William son-Hicks-Committee on British policy in the Antarctic.—This is understood to concern Adele Land, having regard to its proximity to Empire territories, their sphere of influence and the extent to which they are affected by French claims. The chairman was not named. Committee on the Anglo-French condominium in the New Hebrides. Chairman : Mr. Amery. A snb-committee on general economics. Chairman: Sir Sydney Chapman. A special overseas settlement committee. Chairman: The Earl of Clarendon, Under-Secretary for the Dominions. Workmen's compensation committee. Chairman: Sir W. Joynson-Hicks. A special sub-committee on air communications. Chairman: Sir Samuel Hoare. Secretary of State for Air.. Research sub-committee. Chairman: The Earl of Balfour. Forestry Committee. Chairman: Lord Lovat. Economics and Settlement. The Economic and Overseas Settlement Committees met in the afternoon. The former specially discussed the possibilities of Empire-wide industrial standardisation of materials and specifications. A suggestion was thrown out that it would bo invaluable to appoint bodies in every Dominion and colony to promote au extension of standardisation. The most notable contribution to the first meeting of the Overseas Settlement Committee was Lord Clarendon's review of the difficulties at both ends in carrying out the settlement scheme in the past three years. He insisted that the question must be considered from the standpoint of benefit, to the whole Empire, and from that of a redistribution of the white population.

Migration and Prosperity. Lord Clarendon said the British Government did not regard migration in the light of a possible cure for unemployment in Britain. It was upon a development of the resources of the Dominions, with the attraction of capital and labour to those Dominions—ultimately resulting in extended Empire markets for British manufactures-—that there could be a relation between migration and prosperity in Britain. The speaker argued in favour of an agreed upon long-term migration plan which would not be affected by politics or other changes. He laid stress upon important new facts bearing upon 'Britain's capacity to supply largo streams of migrants. In tho past this had been carried on without draining the resources of the Motherland, because the annual increase in her population was greater than the needs of home industries.

Fewer Youthful Migrants in 1933. Looking forward, however, said Lord Clarendon, it was almost certain that this position would bo altered by 1933, owing to the continuance of the effects of the war-time reduction in the birth rate. The most careful calculations showed that there would bo from 350,000 to 400,000 less boys and gir.'s aged 14 to 18 available for employment then than at present. It was true that many young people were at present unemployed, but the proportion of these was far smaller than it was in the case of adults. Defence Question To-day. Continuing, Lord Clarendon said that assuming a normally increasing demand for labour there would be an actual shortage for homo industrial needs within 10 years amounting to nearly 300,000. The industries of tho Dominions and Britain wanted young people as workers. Under the present circumstances the Dominions had only agricultural employment to offer to migrants. In view of the above forecast it would be very helpful if the Dominions could gradually build up a balanced schema for absorbing migrants, both for industrial and for agricultural operations. The conference will consider Imperial defence to-morrow. A statement will be issued in the evening.