The British Emigrant.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 4, 27 July 1910, Page 34

The British Emigrant.

ECHOES OF A LONDON CONFERENCE. DOMINIONS CRITICISED. LONDON, June 3. For two whole days this week a conference convened by the Royal Colonial Institute discussed the question of British emigration. Nothing very new was discovered, which is hardly surprising; but the discussion at the conference showed, as one of the delegates put it, the necessity for a conference. For a good deal of confusion and overlapping as regards methods of working were revealed among the delegates from the various societies, and the need for a common policy was emphasised thereby. Various schemes of colonisation and settlement were put forward by enthusiasts. and it was decided to refer these to a standing committee to be appointed by the Royal Colonial Institute. The conference also passed a resolution suggesting to the Government the desirability of holding a subsidiary conference as soon as possible. Representatives of 50 agencies, chiefly philanthropic, attended the conference, W’hieh was held at the Whitehall Rooms,

Hotel Metropole. Mr T. E. Donne, New Zealand’s immigration officer in London, was present, but took no part in the discussion. Generally speaking, there was a striking absence of official representatives of the oversea Dominions, and open complaint was made of this by several

speakers, notably Sir Clement KinlochCooke, M.P., chairman of the Central Emigration Board. “The Agents-General,” said he, “are ready enough to appear when they can say something in praise of their own Dominions, but when it is a question of meeting and answering criticism they are not there.”

What the Dominions Want. Canada was criticised on account of its present regulations prohibiting the entry of immigrants assisted by public or private agencies unless they are going to work on the land. Sir C. Kinloch-Cooke

described these regulations as “ridiculous and outrageous.” The Canadian point of view was put by Colonel Lamb, chief emigration officer of the Salvation Army, who is a man of vast experience in emigration work. “Surely,” said Colonel Lamb, “the wants of the Dominions are well known. They want men who are morally and

mentally fit, the man who never touches drink, or tells a lie, or never intends to; the man who does not covet his neighbour's land, or anything belonging to his neighbour. He must have a little agricultural knowledge, and, of course, a little capital.”

The conference laughed, but Colonel Lamb was in earnest. “Do you blame the Dominions?” he asked. “1 don't.” “The agencies represented here,” added Colonel Lamb, “are in a difficulty. We cannot get into Australia, Africa is a closed door. The United States do not want us. It is no use blinking facts. Here is the situation: This country wants

to get rid of a large proportion of its surplus population; but the Dominions say, ‘We don’t want them at any price.’ How are we to overcome the difficulty The united intelligence of the conference failed to find an answer to that question, which was, indeed, the crux of the whole problem. The Dominions do not want the Old Country’s failures. The men they do want are the men England can least afford to lose. It was stupid, not to say impertinent, for a section of the conference, including delegates like Sir Clement Kinloch-Cooke, to scold tin* Dominions for not welcoming the derelicts of Old England. That did not bring the conference a yard nearer a solution of the ditliculty. Equally futile was it to say that the Dominions did not know what they wanted. Colonel Lamb and various other delegates made it clear that they knew not only what they wanted, but also what they did not want. £10,000,000 a Year Asked. Mr J. E. Pounds, of Melbourne, gave the view of the Dominions. "They do not want,” he said, "town residents or pauper people, men or children. They want agricultural people, who will be content to stay on the land.” He stated that a delegation from Victoria was coming to England to look for 40.000 farmers and agriculturists, able to buy and settle on Victorian irrigated lands. The practical men at the conference, as opposed to the theorists (of whom there* were enough and to spare) recognised that it was no use upbraiding the Dominions for their very natural desire* to keep out the* dregs of an Old World civilisation. Optimists and pessimists were unanimous, however, in urging that the Home Government should take more* interest in emigration. Colonel Lamb, who impresseel me as the most practical of all the* delegates, related his experience in trying to rouse the Government, lie first went, he* said, te> the* Local Government Board, and was referred to the Boarel of Trade. Here* he was passeel on tei the* Colonial Oilice, where* he* was informed that this was a matter for the Treasury. (Laughter.) And when he spoke* to the* Prime* Minister, he was told: “Oh. that is a departmental question, with which I cannot

deal.” (Renewed laughter.) Some people declared that the United Kingdom would be capable of supporting a population of st MM Hl.OOO if society were properly organised. In the meantime, said the Colonel, they wanted the question settled as to whether loans could he made under the Labour Exchanges Act to emigrants. He suggested that instead of €500.000 being made available for loans to working men, the Government should provide* a fund of 110,000.000 for (‘migration generally. (Cheers.) ‘‘That is my idea,” he said, "‘of the magnitude of tin* work before ns. The fund should be managed by commissioners who should be outside the sphere of party politics.” It is significant of the diversity of views at the conference that while Colom*! Lamb boldly “plumped” for ten millions as the sum the Government ought to spend every year, Sir Frederick Young thought the sum should be €1.000.000, and Lord Brassey was content to name a modest €10.000.’ Colonel Murray, of the Labour Exchanges, said that although nothing had yet been done in the matter of (‘migration, it was very much in the minds of the officials of the Board of Trade. Certain schemes were receiving the careful and benevolent consideration of the authorities. The theory of the preparation of emigrants was brought down to a practical level by the suggest ion of agricultural training for boys of 15 and 10 desirous of emigrating. If it be true that there is no work in England for as many as 45 per cent of the boys, leaving school, it is obvious that instruction in what makes the successful emigrant/ should form an important part of the .(‘ducation of at least 45 per cent.