BRISTOL MIGRATION PROJECT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20586, 8 December 1928, Page 26

BRISTOL MIGRATION PROJECT.

SIR THOMAS MACKENZIE AND THE “DOLE” DOMINION TRADE AND AVONMOUTH. STRONG CRITICISM BY ALDERMAN. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, October 25. The annual dinner of the Royal Colonial Institute (Bristol branch) took place on October 18; when Mr P. Steadman (chairman of the council) presided. The guest of the evening, Major-general the Son. Sir G. Ryrie, High Commissioner for Australia, was unable to be present owing to illness, but his place was admirably filled by the Hon. Sir Thomas Mackenzie, ex-Prime Minister 'of New Zealand, and a Freeman of the City of Bristol. Lieutenant-colonel E. W, Lenhard, referring to Sir Thomas Mackenzie, said their guest _ had played more than a small part in the building up and the maintenance of those traits and characteristics . of which the young nation. of New Zealand was justly very proud. They knew that Sir Thomas would scarcely need conversion as to the possibilities of Bristol’s oversea traffic facilities. Less than a week ago in London he heard him, at a big assembly, boosting Bristol and its port for all he was worth. Another matter in which he knew that Bristol effort is of great interest to their guest was the project set on foot by the Bristol Migration Committee, which would probably result in a of Bristol and district boys going each year to make new homes and careers for themselves in New Zealand. The committee was born about a year a €°- . It represented all local societies and individuals interested in migration. It had already assisted, in the overseas settlement of nearly 100 men, women, and children, and its new hostel at Green would be ready early in the new year to start the systematic preparation of boys for Dominion farm life. They wanted Sir Thomas to see that hostel because they believed that it represented ah experiment, not only the best of its kind so far, but one which might well serve as a model to other towns and cities of this country in a bold attempt to decentralise and to tackle the very great problem of bringing Empire citizens and Empire opportunities together. Bristol’s migration plans meant the making of new Empire ties, of a united Empire was scarcely possible unless the right proportion of British stock for British lands could be ensured and maintained. They believed that New Zealand and the other great Dominions to-day offered opportunities to young people of Bristol and of its hinterland in both Gloucestershire and Somerset. _ They wanted to help all who were willing to take and use those opportunities, and thus strengthen those ties of blood and sentiment which should ensure a permanently united Empire. , "DOLE’’, CRITICISED. Sir Thomas Mackenzie said he was proud to be regarded as a link , between Bristol and the Dominion of Now Zealand. He congratulated the Bristol branch upon the excellent work it had put m on behalf of the Empire. It stood out prominently above that done by any other city in the world. There was never any Empire in history lik e the British. It was capable of supplying needed in daily life, and it only required a united Empire to-bring its produce together, and by exchange' make the Empires position greater than it had ever been.

Referring specially to the port of Bristol, he said thanks to such ambassadors of commence as Mr H. L. Riselev and Mr Palliser Martin, Bristol was known to New Zealand better than any other city except London. Bristol had a his tory unsurpassed by any city, in the kingdom 3 - and the generosity of its citizens was world renowned. N*w Zealand could never sufficiently thank M r R. E. Bush for his magnificent work during the war, when he provided nearly a hundred hospital beds at his own expense. . Sir Thomas had formed the opinion many years ago that no better facilities for handling meat could bo found than those at Avoninouth, and he was glad to see New Zealand ships coming to Bristol more regularly. The chairman of the New Zealand Meat Board had told him he wae prepared to send as much meat as possible to the great nort of the west. 1 , Dealing with the mi oration scheme, he thought it an admirable idea being carried out along the right lines, especially in finding out whether boys had any inclination or liking for agricultural purtraining to enable them to dp something they would be of value ■ directly they stepped ashore in New Zealand. There was not sufficient work for all classes of employment, but agriculture was the principal industry. He did not like to criticise Home methods, but he did not see how it was possible to induce lads to leave this countrv when they could get so much here for doing nothing. In such circumstances they were not likely to undertake fairly arduous work overseas. Make those men who are fit to workj work,” said Sir Thomas. “ and if they won’t work let them starve. It the present State of things is allowed to continue it will degrade and corrupt the nation. Slackness is polluting the colonies. Young fellows go put, and because they cannot get someth in e foy nothing they come back and make false reports, about conditions overseas. Bet England train her citizens for production, and then bring the citizens and opportunity together overseas. If England will give the dominions her markets dominions will be able to take all her surplus population.”

IMPORTS FROM THE DOMINIONS. The Deputy Lord Mayor of Bristol (Alderman E. M. Dyer) expressed dissatisfaction with the colonial imports at the Bristol docks. Visitors came from the dominions,' inspecting the facilities at Avonmouth and spoke in high terms of the plant, and yet the trade did not come. Why? If Sir Thomas could point to anything that needed altering in order to attract trade he was sure the citizens of Bristol would be wijling to spend the money to put it right. He was afraid there were certain interests at work which prevented goods going to the but ports. It was said that those matters were controlled in London, that London was the market for everything. Bristol, however, had the facilities to handle all classes of goods in large quantities, but since the war the port appeared to have been dropped altogether. Why were not goods put into Avonmouth? London was congested at all times, and was it fair to the local merchants that they should have to pay £1 per ton more to get their goods down from London and lose the market through being days behind? If some' of the statesmen would pay a little more attention to necessary things instead of minor and stupid matters it would be better for all concerned.

For instance, there was the Empire Marketing Board. It was the wickedest waste of public money to erect hoardings up and down the country and to paste upon them jazzy pictures—some of the silliest stuff ever put on boards. What working-man’s wife was ging to look at those boards and theu go to her grocer and say she wanted colonial products? His own opinion was that if they wanted to make colonial products popular they ought to put them on the market in the very best condition and at the very lowest price possible, and then they would build up a bond between the colonies and the Mother Country that would ""cer bo broken.