EMPIRE SETTLEMENT

Otago Witness, Issue 3556, 9 May 1922, Page 21

EMPIRE SETTLEMENT

NATIONAL POLICY ADVOCATED. LONDON, May 3. A deputation of members of the House of Commons and educationalists waited on Colonel L. C. M. S. Amery and advocated the adoption of a national policy for systematically training schoolboys and girls, men and women, to fit them for emigration. Colonel Amery, replying, said that the operations of the Overseas Settlement Committee clearly demonstrated the futility of haphazard immigration. It would be not only difficult but impossible to supply the dominions with an agricultural population from Great Britain’s industrial population. The system of giving prospective emi* grants a thorough agricultural training in Britain was valueless because the instruction had to be mostly unlearned on arrival in the dominions, where alone the practical training should be received, but a preliminary training which was calculated to turn city boys into handy men who would prove themselves most useful was necessary. This was especially valuable for boys leaving school before they entered a “blind alley” occupation—from stock exchange clerking to selling newspapers. South Australia had made a valuable commencement in such immigration. The Empire Settlement Bill would necessitate the creation of a series of private organisations throughout the Empire which would supply the preliminary training to assist young folks here and to welcome them in the dominions. In this way he hoped the Bill,would replace the haphazard immigration by a system of organised wasteless settlement covering the whole field from the preliminary training of boys and girls here to their establishment as farmers on their own account in the dominion. May 4. The House of Commons in committee passed a resolution approving of payment not exceeding £1,500,000 in the current year and £3,000,000 in any subsequent year in furtherance of the settlement of ex-servicemen in the dominions. Colonel L. C. M. S. Amery, in addressing the overseas journalists, explained the Settlement Bill. He emphasised that the British Government’s principal idea was co-operation with the dominion Governments or private organisations, and urged the need for complete organisation, especially in the dominions, for placing immigrants to the best advantage. Colonel Amery said he favoured juvenile immigration because of the adaptability of juveniles. He was also in favour of settling women overseas. ITALIAN EMIGRATION. GENOA, April 30. Signor Sturzo, of the Italian Popular P«arty, and Signor Michaelo, ol the Emigration Department, interviewed Sir Joseph Cook with a view to ascertaining what openings there are for Italian agriculturists in Australia, to which Italians are looking owing to the restrictions in America and Canada. Sir Joseph Cook promised to consider the matter after consulting the authorities in London.