CHILD MIGRATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18851, 2 May 1923, Page 4

CHILD MIGRATION

BRITISH WOMEN’S PATRIOTIC! LEAGUE. PERSONAL INTEREST. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, March 8. The British Women’s Patriotic League is an organisation which sets out to educate public opinion on the necessity of patriotism in a practical form. In the present state of Great Britain, when unemployment is a matter of paramount importance. it is only natural that the League should be' interesting itself in migration within the Empire. Not long ago Colonel L. C. M. S. Amery lectured before tho League, and this week Sir Henry Oowau (who was a member of Parliament until the last- election, and' whose wife is chairwoman of tho League) spoke on “Child Migration.” The meeting took place at the Langham Hotel, Lady Sydenham being in tho chair.

A point brought out in the diesussion that followed was, tho necessity for personal interest in migration, and as'showing that the League had already done something in this direction. Lady Cowan stated that two members had each arranged to contribute £3O a- year for the maintenance of two children who had been sent to West Australia. Another speaker pointed out that by an Act passed in the, 28th year of Queen Victoria’s reign, tho Guardians of the Poor might contribute £lO to any person who desired to migrate. This was a privilege that was seldom made use of, and it behoved the ratepayers to see that deserving people took advantage of the law. It was not enough to pay for a passage in these daysf but with the assistance hold -out by the British Government and by the dominions themselves, it would help considerably in bringing people to a decision. The Board with which he was associated had just paid £SO to a man and wife and four children on the eve of sailing overseas. Tho speaker maintained that a proportion of every family should' go abroad. If that principle were inculcated in the minds of th© people it would bo better for the Empire, LABOUR OPPOSITION. Referring to the opposition displayed by certain people attached to the Labour Party to migration- proposals, Sir Henry Cowan said their deliberate object was to bring about unrest and discontent in this country solely -to foster revolution. According to the register of unemployment there were 200,000 young people wh<y hod left school but were unable to obtain employment, and 750,000 boys and girls were leaving school each year, and a large proportion of these would be condemned to unemployment and the demoralisation that would follow th© receipt of doles which they had never earned. Sir Henry outlined all the schemes in Australia for dealing with juveniles from 14 to 18, and he read .reports from many sources showing how well the young migrants wore treated and tne success' and happiness they had found. Fifty boys sent to New South Wales last spring had already banking accounts amounting in all to £SOO. The statement that they w-ere tearing children from their mothers arms was nonsense. They did not want to send children out who- had happy homes, but there were thonasnds of orphans and children who were kept by the Boards of Guardians who would never have a chance in this country. In tho dominions they Would have opportunities of forming personal attachments which they could never have here.

Another speaker suggested that such institutions as the Barnardo Homes should have branches in the dominions, so that the children could grow tip in the countries where they would subsequently have to earn their living. Sir Henry Cowan said that it would encourage the dominion Governments to do more if the people here put down more money. Every child who left England was in a way a direct advantage, but it would be some years before the dominion which recived that child had ceased to be financially responsible for it.