BRITISH EMIGRATION IN 1909.

Otago Witness, Issue 2934, 8 June 1910, Page 41

BRITISH EMIGRATION IN 1909.

ANNUAL REPORT. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, April 8. The annual report of the Emigrants' Information Office draws attention to the misleading statements by which emigrants have been attracted to countries where the prospects a-re not favourable. In November 1908.. for instance, a company operating in Glasgow, advertised for artisans to go to South America, and stated that an investment of funds in the com-' pany would be required from those employed as a security for the fulfilment of their engagements. The artisans were wanted for Venezuela, and early in 1909 a number of those who had been engaged had, to be brought back destitute. The company suspended its recruiting, and its Scottish representatives sev-. ered their connection with it, but exhaustive enquiries failed to disclose sufficient evidence to justify a prosecution under the Merchant_ Shipping Act of 1906 for fraudulent inducements to emi-: grate. The report refers to signs that a pro"-. paganda was contemplated, designed taj encourage emigration to Brazil. The attention of the office was called to case*' of hardship and disappointment suffered by emigrants who had gone to that coun< try in the expectation of finding work. The office also learned of cases of hard' ship and destitution among Scottish' shepherds recruited bv private companies for employment in Chili. In all thest cases the offices issued warnings to intending emigrants. The chairman of the committee, Mr F. G. A. Butler, of the Colonial Office, visited Canada last autumn, and tha present report gives his opinion on cer« tain English emigrants who have g<m& to that country. While " the best English emigrant was spoken of in terms oi the highest praise," there was a prevalent feeling that others lacked adaptability,* It was generally admitted that this waj? the fault of a minority, but the majorti found greater initial difficulties in conse* quence. SOME STATISTICS. The passenger returns show an increase in the number of passengers of British origin who left the United Kingdom fo^ ? laces out of Europe, as compared with, 908. the total being 288,865 as against 263,199. The number returning fell front 172,043 in 1908 to 149,091 in 1909. Tbi number of passengers to Canada rosfi from 81,321 to 85,943, while the numbe* returning fell from 39.866 to 33,506. Th* departures for Australia rose from 21,894 in 1908 to 27.158 in 1909, and the re* turns declined from 10,418 to 9781. Th« net movement to New Zealand declined from 8947 to 7863, 11,675 passengers of British origin going to that Dominion InC 1908 as agafnst 10,500 in 1909, and 2728 returning, a» against 2637. During thej year 251 emigrants, with 228 dependents, ware sent out by the Central (Unemploy* ed) Body fos London, at a cost of £5451, and 279 emis&nts, with 474 dependents,, were sent out <Sy Provincial Distress Committees at a tftst of £7228. The great majority of tfM v ©migrants went either trf Canada (252 odes) or Australia (236). In" 37 cases their destination was New Zealand, in three cases the United States, and in two cases South Africa.