MIGRATION TO CANADA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19809, 2 December 1927, Page 14

MIGRATION TO CANADA.

DEMAND FOR QUOTA LAW. INFLUX OF FOREIGNERS. CHARGES BY CLERGYMEN. [FROM OUIt OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] TORONTO. Oct. 20. Advocacy of a quota law modelled on the United States immigration law has suddenly developed in Canada and the Government.,, despite opposition from the railways and other powerful interests, may have to how to the demand. There will, of course, be tins important modification — that there will be no quota as against immigration from the British Isles. The bomb was thrown by clergymen assembled at the General Synod of the Church of England in Canada. Two charges were made, first thai foreign races were being allowed to submerge British stock >n immigration with the result that British supremacy in the Western Provinces was threatened, and second, that an official preference for Roman Catholics was being countenanced. The first of these charges is supported by official figures of the Immigration Department. During the war and in the years immediately following immigration of foreign races to Canada was negligible, but since 1923 there has been a rapid reversal of the situation. Last year foreign European races equalled the combined influx of British and United States immigrants, and for the first four months of the current year the percentage of foreign races has for the first time in history taken the lead . In these months arrivals included only 36 per cent. British. I2'per cent. United States and 52 per cent, foreign European. Present Year's Statistics.

The facts had only to be stated, to produce an instant reaction of alarm. Canada's total immigration this year will total 200,000 people, the largest influx since the year before the war, when the total was 384,000. AH the criticism of the Government heretofore has been on the ground that it was not sufficiently speeding up its immigration programme. The demand has been for population and more population, and early this year the Government had a clash with interested parties because it definitely put the brakes on the transportation companies' plans' for European immigration. Now the Government will be obliged to shorten sail on account of a gale of criticism from a new quarter.

"The largest item in the 47,000 foreign Europeans who came to Canada in the first four months of the current year was supplied by Germans, who,' in large numbers, are settling in Western Canada. Next came in order, Ruthenians, Poles, Magyars, and Slovaks, with substantial contingents. There were also Belgians, Dutch, Scandinavians, Italians, Yugoslavs, Jews, Austrians, Createans, Czechs and Finns. Proponents of the open door insist that nearly all of these arrivals will make desirable Canadians whom Canada needs. They say that the proper solution is not to keep out any. of these people, but to increase the migration from the British Isles.

Immigrants from Britain. But migration from Britain is difficult. The dole is charged with preventing British unemployed from following the obvious course of migrating to the wide, open spaces of Canada. Moreover, few British unemployed are thought to be competent to go on the land, which is the kind of immigrant Canada wants. The labour unions do not want any increase in urban, immigration. Canadians, however, do not understand why Australia is able to get a much greater British migration than Canada is getting. Australia's immigration is 85 per cent. British as compared with Canada's 56 per cent. One proposal for a Canadian quota law is that the admission of European continentals should be limited to not more than 50 per cent, of the British-born admitted the previous year. The 'subject will undoubtedly be precipitated for discussion at the next session of Parliament and, while three months ago any action to curb a movement of population to Canada would have been regarded as an impossibility, it is almost certain that some action, either legislative or administrative, along that line will be adopted. Census figures show that British stock is not holding its own in Canada. In 1901 it was 57.03 per cent.; in 1911. 54.08: in 1921, 55.40. Continental Europe stock stood at 39.21 per cent, in 1901; 41.33 in 1911 and 42.07 in 1921. French Canadians are included in the ' latter classification, accounting for more than half of it. They are. of course, the first Canadians. Work of Roman Catholics. The charge of a preference for Roman Catholics is not supported by figures. Last year's immigration was about 30 per cent. Roman Catholic. At Confederation Canada was 40 per cent. Roman Catholic. Catholics are, however, pursuing efficient colonisation schemes in many parts of Canada. Through co-opera-tion of the parish priest, the bishop and the Church's world-wide organisation and ability to undertake financial assistance, parishes are being built up of Roman Catholic stock. An important migration from the Hebrides last year was carried out partly under these auspices. Another national work being performed by Roman Catholics is in the repatriation of French Canadians who have emigrated to New England and elsewhere in the United States.