BRITISH EMIGRANTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1605, 23 November 1912, Page 5

BRITISH EMIGRANTS.

EXODUS OF 267,000. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright . (Rec. November 22, 9.80 p.m.) London, November 22. The Empire Trado Commission has concluded its sittings in London. Mr. John Burns, President of the Local Government Board, testified that probably 267,000 emigrants would leave the United Kingdom this year, and of this number eighty two per centum would go to tho colonies. EE-SETTLING THE WORLD'S PEOPLES. The emigration of tho United Kingdom is assuming such large proportions that it is beginning to rank with that which has for some time obtained in the case of several Continental nations. It is not only tho case, as some people suppose, writes Mr. L. Chrozza Money in the London "Daily News," that farm labourers are emigrating; the greater part of our emigrants consists of artisans. In a recent quarter tho single town of Leeds lost 700 skilled workers. Wliilo the British population is exposed to a special call from over the seas because of the extensive British Colonial Empire, many other European countries which do not possess Colonial Empires are also losing an army of people every year. We cannot give for the different countries figures which are exactly comparable, because emigration statistics are not always collected in tho same way, but the available facts show how great a stream of people is flowing from Europe to the New World. ' Tho following table gives the latest information collected by tho Board of Trade:' EMIGRANTS FROM EUROPE IN A •YEAR. Emigrants to Places out of Europe from Tear. Number. Population United Kingdom 1911 455,000 45,000,000 Norway 1910 19,000 2,400,000 Sweden 1910 25,000 5,500,000 Denmark 1910 9,000 2,700,000 German Empire ...1911 23,000 65,000,000 Holland 1910 ■ 3,000 8,000,000 Belgium 1910 4,000 7,000,000 Portugal 1908 40,000 5,000,000 Spain 1906 118,000 19,600,000 Italy. 1910 . 409,000 34,700,000 Switzerland 1910 5,000 3,700,000 Austria-Hungary 1910 268,000 49,000,000 The figures do not give the returning immigrants. For example, in 1911. the United Kingdom received inwards from non-European countries 192,718 British subjects, and, -if we, subtract these from the 455,000 passengers recorded outwards, wo get a balance of 262,000 roughly representing true. emigration. The fifth European country which has a very large emigration is Russia; which does not furnish statistics. We can, however, deduce from other sources that Russian emigration is very great. It is very difficult for us to realise the tremendous import of the changes which are summed up in the big totals'above recorded. Bristol has a population of over 300,000 people. Imagine that in a single year the whole of the people of Bristol, men, Women, and children, packed up and left tho country. Tho fact would- seize upon our imagination; it would be,,unforgettable. How many of us realise that a much more momentous thing is happening in tho United Kingdom this year? If the whole of Bristol went, it would mean the emigration of 300,000 old and young, both sexes, all ages, from infants in arms to tho aged. The 800,000 leaving us this year consist ohiefiy of men, and mainly of..young men. The balance of forces in the world is altering before our eyes, and the thing is tho more momentous because of the rapid fall in the European birth-rate. Simultaneously,, the old world is lending its capital,to develop ,the lands to- which its peoples.,are,;i^rning.i.,,Out of individual needs, out of a blind gropinp for botter opportunities, out of disappointment and hope deferred, the world'is arriving at a new.' synthesis.