An Important Report.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 February 1923, Page 3

An Important Report.

AFFECTING OVERSEAS SETTLEMENT. AUSTRALIAN AND N. 7.. CAlll.F, ASSOCIATION. (Received this dav at 10 a.in.) 1 LONDON. Fell 13. 1 The Oversea Settlement Committee's report for 1922 traces the steps hading; to the Empire Settlement Act and points out the year was spent in negotiating sohetnes thereunder. The population of Britain increased by one and a quarter millions since 1913. While the past was dislocation it meant Britain could not maintain in the near future employment for a population as large as in 1913. The present overpopulation of fanners was a menace to the well being of the whole community. The. report believes the host remedy consists" in Slate-aided migration. The Committee holds if the population of the Dominions were increased. th<ir larger per capita purchases ol British goods would enable Britain to maintain a higher population than she could now. and emphasise that all present migration schemes refer exclusively to land settlement. The Dominions are manly agricultural, and needed population for the primary resources, and had openings only for male settlers and land workers. Canada more so than A usti'jilhi' which urgently needed popuhithin, but the Committee desired to emphasise that the populations of the Dominions as far as possible should he 'British and in sympathy with toe spirit of their origin. Obviously thinly populated areas overseas required population to ensure safety and share their debts. Every new migrant settled been me a valuable capital asset. The value per capita id overseas gooulatioii, ill terms of exports bought from Britain, were:- New /eah.nd, tl->- Australia CB 7 : Canada £3 As <>d : Franct .CL * 'id; Whole of Europe |i; s Fnited States 9s 3d. Ihepi "- bleia was not one of relieving the mimedia t almormal unumploymeiU ui Britain, but linding Imw in i aeiluaLe the expansion of tbe British taco, which, if it continued to be overcrowded hero, and sparsely scattered m Dominions, would likely deteriorate here. 11l these i-ii uemtaines it was hoped tin proposed Imperial I'.conomie Conference would find a means of removing difficulties hitherto tending to check tin How of migration to Dominions. and establish sue!; a system of •State-aided migration as in ensure a steadv increasing on! How nt men. women and children to the Dominions. Th' Committee decided to participate in'the British F re:, Exhibition its affording a unique opportunity lor railing attention p Overseas openings available for British settlers. i