BRITISH MIGRANTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23690, 23 December 1938, Page 9

BRITISH MIGRANTS

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AN INCREASE SUGGESTED DISCUSSION IN PARLIAMENT (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraon Copyright) LONDON, Dec. 21. The House of Commons, without a division, accepted a motion urging the Government, in conjunction with the dominions, to consider all practicable plans for promoting the settlement of people from Britain, and affirming its readiness to cooperate in approved schemes. Mr J. E. Crowder (Con.), moving the motion, asked the Government to increase the financial assistance for migration. He hoped the Government, at an early date, would invite the dominions to consider a composite and well-thought-out plan. Experience showed that an increase in production, employment, and wages resulted from an increase in population. Sir Henry Page Croft (Con.), suggested the formation of an Empire development company, the original directors of which would be approved by the Prime Minister, and would be financial and agricultural experts. The money advanced, to the company by the State would be an investment to be repaid, probably within 23 years. Only £ 10,000,000 would be necessary for a small experiment in British Columbia.

The Secretary for the Dominions, Mr Malcolm MacDonald, in announcing that the Government accepted the terms of the resolution, said that if the British people did not develop new and young countries they would be open to the reproach of sitting on a vast area of the earth’s surface and preventing its beneficial use, and, moreover, the increased properity and power of the dominions—perhaps the best way of augmenting the strength of Britain itself. —(Cheers.) Mr MacDonald indicated that he was thinking, not only of the Empire’s physical security, but its moral influence throughout the world. The Empire Settlement Board would discuss Sir Henry Page Croft’s scheme with him. He assured the House that if £1,500,000 were insufficient for the settlement schemes the Government would ask for more. The Government contemplated much larger populations being settled in the dominions, and anticipated a time when additional millions would get a livelihood there. That was the scale on which they were thinking as an ultimate object. He did not wish to minimise the importance of land settlement, but if the House were thinking in terms of millions of settlers it must accept the fact that such settlement could only be possible by the steady development of secondary industries. He would like to see the manufacturers both in England and the dominions produce simpler forms of goods and taking additional population to help in their production. “It seems to me not merely essential, but the principal part of the policy of dominion development that the secondary industries in the dominions should be steadily expanded. If we are not going to allow a steady expansion of secondary industries, don’t let us talk about developing the Empire overseas, because it cannot be done on any other conditions.”

Mr Ellis Smith (Lab.) said the statement issued by the Federation of British Industries had done more to undermine confidence in New Zealand’s relations with Britain than anything in the past few months.

CRITICISM BY LORD MARLEY AUSTRALIA’S OPEN SPACES LONDON, Dec. 15. Dominions that refuse to fill their open spaces may encourage attack, then call on Britain to aid them in defending themselves. Lord Marley put this argument, with special reference to Australia, in the course of a House of Lords debate on refugGes. “ Take Western Australia,” said Lord Marley. “There are areas there completely uninhabited where Australians themselves and. I understand, the Western Australian Government, strongly favour the settlement of a million people; yet nothing is done because the dominion Governments have pronounced, broadly speaking, against the project.” “ The dominion Governments, said the Earl of Plymouth, Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Foreign Office, “are giving urgent attention to this matter, but as the House knows only too well, they alone can speak for what they are doing or are prepared to do. “ I do not feel that I can say anything further at the moment. I only wish to refer to the fact that the Australian Government has undertaken to accept 15,000 immigrants, spread over three years.” The British Government had been able to admit a considerable number of immigrants without encroaching on the labour market. Lord Plymouth added. For instance, it had allowed into Britain nurses and domestic workers.

Special facilities were being provided for refugees capable of undergoing training, particularly in agriculture.