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Hokitika Guardian, 6 August 1928, Page 2

'[’in', importance of the visit of Mr L. S. Aniery, Dominion Secretary ol State, will he emphasised no doubt by the tour of Lord Lovat, Under Secretary for the Dominions and Chairman of the Overseas Settlement Committee, who sailed from London on Saturday, and will tour Canada, New Zealand and Australia. He is to discuss the question of the provision of additional facilities for settlement overseas. Britain’s over population is to he specially dealt with, and a l>i? scheme with Canada, to supply some thousands of men for the harvest is now in train. These voyagers are being assisted with fares hv the Government, both hv cl>irr Imni’/I null +.rfl ill. a 11<1 at the con-

elusion of tlie harvest. Qvaarla is to find other work, or the men may return to England, under special fare arrangements. In the course of nil interview Lord Lovnt said he hoped to he nhlo to make satisfactory arrangements for 21,1X30 miners and their dependants whom the Government hoped to send overseas. He said ho was going fir l ' to Canada and a representative of his Department would return, when he himself left the Dominion, with full details of the arrangements made. They hoped to offer very definite attractions to miners as settlers on the land. The Government had agreed to train and test them at training centres in the eastern area of England and in Scotland and Wales. The Government had approved in principle a proposal that advances up to £IOO should be made to each settler from Britain who, after having worked on farms for a year or two to gain experience, and having saved £IOO took up land of their own. The Government was very anxious to

encourage family settlement, for it regarded that as one of the .most important • and satisfactory methods of settlement. Apart from a direct .settlement scheme, the Government hoped to work out schemes for the provision of cottages on farms in Canada, and Australia in which families could l>e housed while their men were working on their own holdings and gaining experience there before they settled. Although New Zealand at present is suffering from unemployment and has

stopped immigration for the time being, there is every reason why the circumstances should alter, and it is hoped ere Lord Lovat is due here the clouds will have dispersed and some reasonable scheme will ho formulated to get more people on the land, and the Dominion put in the way of greater production. Money is an essential factor in such a development, and it would appear Lord Lovfit has funds at his command which would go a long way in the matter of greater overseas settlement.. Doiditless the New Zealand government are well in touch with the visitor, and special schemes will lxS formulated here to meet local conditions as they promise to do in Canada. The outlook, if that he so, is certainly promising, and it is to bo hoped the highest expectations will be reached.