EMPIRE MIGRATION.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16710, 28 January 1926, Page 5

EMPIRE MIGRATION.

FLESH AND BLOOD LINK,

SPEECH BY PRINCE OF WALES.

THE STREAM MUST GO ON.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) LONDON, Jan. 26.

What is generally acclaimed as being a most valuable contribution to the problem of Empire migration was made by the Prince of Wales in responding to the toast of his health at a luncheon given by the Australian and New Zealand Luncheon Club at the Hotel Cecil in celebration of Australia Day. There was a very distinguished gathering, those present including the Japanese Ambassador, Baron Matsui, who sat between Lord Forster, ex-Governor-General of Australia, and Sir Joseph Cook, High Commissioner for the Commonwealth.

In proposing the health of the Prince of Wales, Lord Forster said nobody could adequately assess what the Empire owed to the efforts of the Royal Family unless he had a personal knowledge. From his own experience he could say the result of the Prince's visit to Australia was most astonishing. The Prince had confirmed the loyalty of the people of Australia and strengthened their pride, strong though both were. The memory of tUe visit of His Royal Highness was ineffaceable. It was a great work, greatly done, and was all due to the great personality of the Prince. In his reply the Prince paid a tribute to the outstanding work done by Lord Forster in Australia, a country in which he was ,bound to remain interested. That was inevitable once one had been there. Even his own memory of his visit was most vivid to-day. A Paramount Link. Continuing, the Prince said: "Although the bare bones of history do not count for much, the living story of how the nations of the Empire have grown up cannot too often' be told. "The most paramount among the present links of Empire is the stream of men, women and children who are going to the Dominions. That is a flesh and blood link which I am sure will stand the most severe strain. "The stream must go on and grow for good and all. (Cheers.)

"On the one hand there is our overpopulated Old Country, on the other the vast virgin territories of the Dominions, the possibilities of which are immeasurable.

"Migration. must be carefully controlled or it will flow all wrong," continued His Royal Highness. "For that reason the closest co-operation is necessary. We here must select and partially train migrants for the new work ahead of them. Those 'way down under' must give advice to and look after would-be settlers until they have been absorbed.

"It all means organisation, because it is the most vital problem of to-day and must be tackled.

"I am glad to learn that the Church of England is co-operating, and I hope other churches will join in. The Salvation Army and Dr. Barnardo's Home arc doing a lot, but I would like to see more well-to-do people taking up land settlement in the Dominions as. their future career. (Hear, hear.) "I would also like to see the publio schools not only teaching more Empire, but taking a greater part in its development." Happy Children In the Dominions. The Prince alluded to the excellence of the Big Brother movement and the wisdom of sending British schoolboys on visits to Australia. He said he was very interested in child migration. He had never seen happier children than he saw in the Dominions, but there were not enough of them.

The New Zealand sheepowncrs' migration scheme was a noteworthy effort.

"I hope you will not only share in my interest, but in my optimism," said the Prince. "I look forward to the day when we shall be able to smile with satisfaction at obstacles surmounted."

Sir Joseph Cook, who presided, read cabled greetings from the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr S. M. Bruce. He then thanked the Prince for his notable speech.

Australia, said Sir Joseph, was determined to make an even greater contribution to Britain's food supply.

The Secretary of State for the Dominions, Mr L. G. M. S. Amery, paid a tribute to the Prince for his speech. He said the migration problem transcended all issues—party or otherwise. He was confident that in order to make the Empire even greater yet the Empire's human resources must be properly distributed.