EMPIRE SETTLEMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1922, Page 1

EMPIRE SETTLEMENT

BILL BEFORE COMMON'S

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. LONDON, April 26. In tho Commons, Hon Amery in moving tho second reading of the Empire Settlement Bill, pointed out that a large proportion of. the ex-service-men who emigrated under the earlier Overseas Scttlem'cnt Committees scheme, would probably have emigrated of their own accord if tlie war had not broken out. A considerable percentage of the tx-servieers thus sent out now, were progressing 'well towards substantial prosperity. If they had remained, a majority would certainly have noded employment benefits. Hie cost of their passage, therefore, was will spent. The present Bill enabled the Colonial Secretary and Overseas Settlement Committee to co-operate with both Overseas Governments, and responsible .private ‘organisations, in an approved emigration scheme. It should he remembered that Britain had a surplus of 1$ million women, while the shortage of women in the dominions was prejudicing their social life. The first years’ Imperial expenditure was limited. Experience had prepared a substantial instalment of the larger future policy. Imperial expenditure was contingent upon the Dominions undertaking considerably larger expenditure on land settlement and the direct settlement of men on land must be the foundation of any policy of economic regeneration of the Empire. After the first year the Imperial expenditure would he three millions annually, of which about a million would lie devoted to the provision of passages on a, half ;uid half basis with the Dominions. Mr Amery commended the Bill as the first step towards the Empire’s economic recovery, and an economical unprovocative measure of Imperial defence. Mr Clynes pointed out that while some might support the Bill under the impression that emigration would relieve the burden of unemployment, as a matter of fact the Bill did not touch the root cause of unemployment. He feared Mr Amery would he disappointed, as the ultimate consequence of the Bill’s working, lie could not accept Mr Amory's conclusions that it was advantageous to neglect trade opportunities in Europe, in order to cultivate closer economic trade relations with the dominions. He hoped no attempt would he made to subsidise private agencies like shipping companies, who were merely pecuniarily interested in emigration. He asked whether the Dominion Labour organisations had been consulted.