EMPIRE MIGRATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22816, 27 February 1936, Page 9

EMPIRE MIGRATION

MOVE FOR RESUMPTION OVERSEAS BOARD ANNOUNCED (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, February 25. The Oversea Settlement Board consists of Mr D. Hacking (Under-secretary for the Dominions), Mr E. G. Machtig, and Mr Alexander Waterfield (official members), Mr W. G. S. Adams, General Nation, Mr George Gibson (a member of the General Council of the Trade Union Council), Mr H. J. Mitchell (president of Imperial Chemical Industries), and the Dowager Marchioness of Reading (widow of the late marquess), unofficial members. The Government representation is thus increased by two unofficial members on the recommendation of the Interdepartmental Committee on Migration Policy. The board will be presided over by Mr Malcolm Mae Donald, whose recommendations will be generally accepted. The board's functions will be to advise the Secretary of State for the Dominions upon specific proposals and schemes of migration within the Empire and upon any matter relating to overseas settlement that he may refer to it. It will be concerned with questions of policy and regular administration, promotion of schemes, co-operation between the Government and volunta»y organisations and between voluntary organisations themselves. A General Committee on Overseas Settlement, recommended by the Interdepartmental Committee, will not be constituted until the board has begun its work. Mr Malcolm Mae Donald, questioned in the House of Commons, said he understood that a majority of the members had Empire experience or at any rate had travelled in the dominions. Mr Neil Maclean: Will they have power to hear evidence from those who returned home on account of unemployment? Mr Mae Donald: If they want power no doubt they will say so. FAVOURABLE PRESS COMMENT LONDON, February 26. (Received Feb. 26, at 10 p.m.) The establishment of the Overseas Board has been favourably received by the press. The Times stresses that the announcement carries a guarantee that the resumption of migration, when it occurs, will be a matter for most careful planning. The Daily Telegraph says: "Emigration can never be the'haphazard business that it was."