The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Tunes.) THURSDAY, JUNE 28th., 1923 EMPIRE MIGRATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Tunes.) THURSDAY, JUNE 28th., 1923 EMPIRE MIGRATION.

Empiiih migiation as m means of redressing the balance between the overpopulated .Mother Country, and the thinly peopled Dominions "as urged, says a London correspondent, by Lieut. Col. A. Rueklcy (Parliamontiiry Secretary of the Department of Overseas Trade, and chairman of the Overseas Settlement Committee) in an address to the Rotary Conference at Scarborough. He denied that, it aas a method of dumping down in the Dominions a lot of helpless people, who could not make a. living here. There never was a. greater Inllacy. It was essentially a problem of the readjustment of the population, and of ttie creation of new wealth and opportunities. The population of this country had inoionscd by six millions since 1000. 17p to that year three-quarters of the emigrants from these shores went to places other than the British Empire, and most went to America. Since that year, however, two thirds of the emigrants had gone to the British Empire. Lieut.-Col. Buckley hoped to organise some system ol country migration committees, to sec that tho right men were sent. lie wanted to send the best people abroad. It was no use sending out weaklings, for they only gave the Old Country a bad name. If the Rotary movement gave some attention to ibis v.ovii it would he a most useful instrument for good. The committee had sent, out 2500 hoys to Australia in the last two years, and they had only had twelve letters of complaint. Dealing on the same subject, the Duke of Devonshire was the chief guest at the West Australian dinner in London (Sir J. Connolly being in the chaii) and Sir James Allen a,ml Sir 11. d’F.gville were among others present. One think which the Duke was anxious strongly to make [ample understand was that Empire settlement and migration were not dismal attempts to make improvements or to better conditions, but these matters were taken up with confidence anil hope, and certainty in the future. He would always look back with very considerable satisfaction to the fact that be had the privilege as Secretary of State for the Colonies, of signing the agreement with tho (iovernnient. of Most Australia, the Commonwealth Government, and the State Government, for the purpose of putting into effect the arrangements completed for ‘Empire settlement. That agreement bad two objects : (V) to provide work for the emigrants in the country districts, and (2) for the settling ol 6000 men on farms of their own. They were working ns a part ol their daily opera turns in close connexion with tile Com men wealth representatives. and with the State representatives, carrying out fl policy wnich he believed had the confidence and support of people m homo and in tho Dominions. On those lines they would continue to work, except that as time went on they would become bolder, and broaden and widen the opportunities for those for whom they were working. He was quite confident that they were working on the right lines. They were nobly doing their part in the solution of that problem. lie could onlv wish them the greatest success in their efforts ami they could rely upon the Government at Homo te'te a firm friend, anxious to. work with them, proud to take part in the development of their great inheritance, and to co-operate with them in every way. The big problem that they had to face was security from outside Aggression, security that the conditions which prevailed throughout the Empire would he of that character that- when an honest man did a day's work and put his back and soul into it he should bo secure and left free and unmolested.