BETTER TERMS NEEDED

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12354, 26 January 1926, Page 7

BETTER TERMS NEEDED

FOR OVERSEA SETTLEMENT WILL BRITAIN PAY WHOLE.COST? PRESENT SYSTEM HAS a FAILED Br Telegraph.—Press Assn.*= Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, January 24. The Colonial Institute has memorialised Mr Baldwin, the Prime Minister, to receive a deputation for the promotion of migration. Mr Baldwin has delegated Mr Amery, the Colonial Secretary to receive the deputation on Monday. The memorial declares that the Overseas Settlement Act is entirely inadequate and a new Act is urgently necessary, for the following reasons: — (I) The stipulation that overseas Governments mnst pay equal shares with the Imperial Government in the cost of any approved scheme, though excellent in theory, mnst break down in Eractice. The small populations of the lominions render it impossible to find money to finance migration schemes on such a comprehensive scale. TOO SLOW (2) Under the Act the rate of progress is too slow for the effective handling of the migration problem. (3) There should be direct co-opera-tion by means of Imperial representatives from overseas, similar to the present overseas committee representative of Australia. (4) It is undoubted that > a large number ef people are willing; to migrate, but are unable to do so under the present conditions. REPAYMENT BY SETTLERS The memorial proceeds: “If the Government will agree to bear the. whole cost of settlement schemes, it is suggested that rthe conditions of such scheme should provide for. a gradual repayment by settlers of the moneys advanced by the Imperial Government. In case migrants do not settle on the land, voluntary societies ifiust pledge themselves to secure repayment.” The memorial urges that the repatriation of the migrant should not be made too easy. It also urges that there be a Homeland settlement scheme on as favourable terms as those overseas. Lord Stanley, of Alderfey, will introduce the deputation. Mr Christopher urnowr will he the chief exponent of the views 6et forth. Mr Amery is expected to make a most important pronouncement.