SETTLEMENT WITHIN THE EMPIRE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3156, 7 August 1917, Page 6

SETTLEMENT WITHIN THE EMPIRE

\ BRITISH COMMITTEE'S REPORT PROBLEMATICAL POINTS : London, August 4. The.-'report of the Empire Settlement Committee sets out the opinion of the committee that, henceforth, 110 part of the Empire must .consider emigration strictly.: from. tho;point of view'of its own interests'aud-needs. The Dominions should hot wish to denude tlio Mother' Country of population she needs, ]>ut should welcome those sho is able (o ' spare, particularly those who liavo fought the Empire's battles. New Zealand's plans do not yet extend beyond lier own men, mainly, duo to the fact that she has not such vast OTCas as the other Dominions.' ' The. comniittee deprecates the scheme "of. prirate'.companies lor settlement, unless" they ;are thoroughly ap- ■ proved by the Government concerned. It .also-finds that there is generally strong , political feeling overseas against immigration of general labour. The evidence of a Dominion witness favours training in the country whence the emigrant goes; therefore, it is not expedient that .the Imperial Government should establish training farms. It advises training - immigrants awaiting shipment, so as to ... gain soma elementary knowledge of agri- ' cultural work in tho Mother Country, c. and' hopes tho Home 'Government will institute vocational training of ex-service men. ' '.The report makes it clear that disabled men should not be encouraged to emigrate, and recommends that ex-ser-vice - emigrants should not immediately ' take their families overseas. The emi- ■ gration of widows and children should only be undertaken in consultation with , overseas Governments. Tho committee [:!. .bonsiSers these Governments would be well advised to encourage tho emigration of orphan children, and that the Home Government should grant monetary assist- •. ance to women emigrants. The committee finds the question of transport ob- ■ scute, and that probably for a considerate time after the war shipping will

"be insufficient to accommodate many etnix - -grants. All the Agents-General were examined at length by tlie committee — 5 ' Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. .