OVERSEAS SETTLEMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 16 February 1921, Page 1

OVERSEAS SETTLEMENT

THE RUSH FROM BRITAIN. AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] LONDON, February 13. The annual report of the Overseas Settlement Committee says: The past year has witnessed an improvement, in the shipping situation, but special mrfasures are still ncjpessary on the Australasian routes to meet the situation. There are complaints regarding the third-class accommodation. These are partly attributable to many going third, who formerly travelled in a superior class, but who are now all compelled to travel third owing to the increase in the passenger rates. They arc partly du e also to the fact that the passengers «re less prepared titan heretofore to face the discomforts of the cheapest ocean travel. “There are still,” says the report, “a considerable number of ex-service men unemployed in Britain. A policy of settlement and of development overseas is a measure which deserves consideration. through relief given to exservice men will be largely indirect.” A TIMELY WARNING.

LONDON, February 15. In the course of its annual report the Overseas Settlement Committee remark: “It must be rememtiered that industrial conditions are al\Viormnl, not only in Britain, but in the Dominions. It is c lcarlv impossible for the self-governing dominions to receive the unemployed of the Mother Country even if they are ex-service men, unless those Governments are satisfied Unit the men will find suitable employment overseas. In certain quarters overseas there is still a tendency to ignore the vital importance of making a careful selection, and there is a tendency to approach this matter t<x> much with the object of meeting immediate labour requirements and there is too little regard for the well being of settlors;

OTHER PROPOSALS. LONDON, February 1. The Overseas Settlement Report says that no policy of Empire settlement can be successful unless the settlers from the Mother Country receive a cordial welcome overseas, and the settlers are placed on the land unde ran organised scheme of grants. Free passages do: ex-service men and women have workled well and will h 0 extended further, j During this year the number of applicants for free passages was 61.943 covering 139,099 persons, of whom 87,009 have received free passages. Of these 5129 men and 1051 women had gone to Australia and 3547 men and 398 women to New Zealand. The total commitments to date were £279.000. The total sums at the disposal of the committee is C 375,000. Owing to the war excess of females in the United Kingdom between the ages of 15 and 45. there are 1,250,000 more women of these ages than men iri Britain, as compared with an excess of only 566,009 in 1911.

Th t . committee, therefore, strongly favour the encouragement of the settlenient of women overseas by the State. The report states that there ar ( . many women who are not prepared to take up domestic service in the United Kingdom but aro prepared to go overseas, where the opportunities may lead to happier and fuller conditions of life than in the Mother Country.

Tlio report says that the overseas settlement of Poor Law and other suitable children is highly beneficial. In West Australia there is an experiment with Dr. Bantado boys. If it is successful, it is hoped similar schemes will be developed elsewhere in Australia and Now Zealand.