MIGRATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18791, 28 May 1923, Page 5

MIGRATION

AUSTRALIAN SCHEME STRINGENTLY CRITICISED MOST EXTRAVAGANT FINANCIALLY By Telegraph.—Press Association. —Copyright. Received May 27, 8.30 p.m. LONDON, May 26. The Financial Times gives prominence to an article by Mr Harold Cox on the migration scheme negotiated by Sir George Fuller, declaring that a more financially extravagant scheme is hard to imagine The writer asks how is a lad of 18, when he has completed his free training in Australia, to be compel led to work there if he prefers to return to England. How is a man, after five years’ tent free on a farm, to be compelled to remain when the time for repayment begins? The offer of the use of £l5OO free of charge for five years will attract a good many people of a type who will prefer to pay nothing back. It is not explained how many years are to be spent in planting these. 6000 settlers. There is also the large question whether it is possible to get any appreciable redistribution of population of the Empire merely by aiming at further development of ag riculture in the Dominions. The size of towns in Canada is increas ing rapidly, while half the population of Australia are concentrated in six capital’cities. The writer alludes to a report of the Commonwealth Minister of Trade and Customs in 1922, urging the necessity for manufacturing development. He submits that this policy should be pursued by both Home and Dominion Governments. Instead of spending £9,000,000 on 6000 settlers who may or may not repay the money advanced, immediate inquiry ought to be conducted as to the desirability of establishing in Australia industries r/w carried on in the United Kingdom, also concerning means necessary to transplant them, together with work people engaged.— Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.