SCOTTISH EMIGRAHON.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1122, 9 May 1911, Page 5

SCOTTISH EMIGRAHON.

THREE THOUSAND SAIL FOR CANADA. By Tsleerajili-Psess AssociaUon-Copyrieht London, May 7. Three thousand Scottish emigrants started for Canada on Saturday. Tho most important department of Canada's development is that connected with immigration matters, and the Hon, Frank Oliver, Minister of the Interior, who is popularly known also as the Minister of Population, was able to make tho satisfactory announcement in the House at Ottawa recently that the immigration for 1909-10 was larger than in\any previous year. The total exceeds 300,000, and compares with 189,000 five years ago, 49,000 ten years ago, and with 21,000 fourteen years ago, when the present Government inaugurated its immigration policy. The annual expenses attached to the work have ristm from .£50,000 to ,£200,000. "During this interval," observed tho Minister, "while the expenses have increased fourfold, the returns have increased fourteenfold." The increase in recent years has been accompanied by a corresponding improvement in the quality of the immigrants. This satisfactory condition has been brought about largely by a general tightening of the regulations. "It is absolutely contrary to the policy of the Canadian Government," said Mr. Oliver, "to give assistance to immigrants or to pay money to induce settlers to come to Canada. We spend our money to bring the advantages of Canada before a desirable class of settlers. Our immigration policy is an advertising policy." As to the origin of tho immigrants, an analysis of the returns for the first nine months of tho present- fiscal year shows that 98,995 were British, 97,702 Americans, and 56,628 were from Continental Europe. The results of the approaching census in Canada which will be taken next month will be awaited with some interest. The Census Commissioner ventures the statement that the population will amount to 8,000,000, an increase of 50 per cent, on 5,371,000, the total of tho previous census. The estimate is based upon the immigration figures for the last ten years and the natnral increase during the period.