OVERSEA SETTLEMENT

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 122, 16 February 1921, Page 7

OVERSEA SETTLEMENT

UNEMPLOYED EX-SERVICE MEN

ABNORMAL INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS

(By Tel«rr*ph-Pros« Aewolatlon-CoiiyrlsM (Rec. February 15. 5.5 p.m.) London, February 14.

The annual report of the Overseas Settlement Committee says: —"The year han witnessed improvement in the shipping situation, but special measures are still necessary on the Australasian routes to meet the situation. Complaints regarding the third-class accommodation are 'partlv attributable to inanv who formerly travelled in the superior class, but who now are compelled to travel third owing to the increase in tho passenger rates, and partly due to the fact that passengers are less prepared than heretofore to face the discomforts of the cheapest ocean travel. "There are still a considerable (number of ex-service men unemployed in Britain. A policy of settlement and development which will stimulate production overseas is a measure which deserves consideration, though the.relief given to ex-service men will be largely indirect. It must be remembered that industrial conditions 'are abnormal not only in Britain, but in the Dominions. It is clearly impossible for the self-governing Dominions to receive the unemployed of the MotherCountry, even if they are ex-service men, unless those Governments aro satisfied that the men will find suitable employment overseas. In certain quarters overseas there is still a tendency to ignore the vital importance of careful selection, and a tendency to approach the matter too much w-ith the object of meeting immediate labour requirements, and too little regard for the well-being of settlers. No policy of Empire settlement can be successful unless settlers from the Mother Country receive a cordial welcome overseas and settlors are placed on land under an organised system of grants. Free, passages for exservice men and women worked' well, and will be extended further. During the year the number of applicants for free passages was 64,043, covering 130,000 persons, of whom 37,000 received free passages, 5'429 men and 1051 hiomen going to Australia and 3547 men and 398 women to New- Zealand. The total commitments to date are £279,000, and the total sum at tho disposal of the committee is .£375,600. Owing to the war the excess of females in the United Kingdom between the ages of 15 and 45 years is 1,250,000, compared with 566,000 in 1911. The committee strongly favours the encouragement of settlement of women overseas by State aid. Many women, who are not prepared to fake up domestic service in the United Kingdom are prepared .to go overseas, where service may lead to happier and fuller conditions of life than in the Mother Country. The overseas settlement of Foor Law and oilier suitable children would be highly beneficial. If the West Australian experiment with Dr Barnardo Homes boys is successful, it is hoped that similar schemes will be • developed elsewhere in Australia and New Zealand—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.