CONGRESS AT SYDNEY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 14013, 18 September 1909, Page 2

CONGRESS AT SYDNEY.

sta^Caided settlement. By Electrip JPdegrapb.— Copyright. SYDNEY, Sept. 17. Sir Albert Spwer, President of the Commercial Congress, moved urging the Home and colonial Governments to consider what further or better steps than at present exist should be taken to elaborate a general State-aided scheme at reduced rates to encourage the emigration of suitable settlers to British dominions. He said: "If those of us who come from the Mother Country arfrnot misinformed, there are powerful parties in some of the States of the Commonwealth who, so far from desirable immigrants, seek to curb the inflow of new settlers. That ia an attitude I could understand if any^of the Australian States were approximately peopled up to their full capacity. Australia for Australians, in its absolute sense, represents limited ambitions. It forebodes the possibility of future enervation." He went on to say that he would rather see Australia for Austra-. Ha and Britons, a whole-hearted welcome being given to new chums and a determination to make the fullest use, of those natural resources with which the Commonwealth was so ifchly endowed. To Canada must be' awarded the palm of having offered the most generous attractions to British immigrants. The result was seen in the ninefold growth of the streams of immigragrants in 14 years. When Australia borrowed most for reproductive work.* she had more attractions for British emigrants, so when she temporarily retired as a borrower the stream of emigration became sluggish. Canada, on the other hand, had digested- heavy amounts of British capital, while in 1906 it was estimated that not less than 40 millions was invested in corporation and other industrial interests in the dominions. Ab the flow of capital gathered strength so the tide of immigration had risen. Mr. Barr (Dunedm) supported the motion. The only alternative to the encouragement of immigration, Re said, was to see themselves in the course oi the next ten years working for either Japanese or German employers. The motion was carried.