CANADA’S STATUS

Hokitika Guardian, 1 December 1928, Page 6

CANADA’S STATUS

MU MACKENZIE KING ON

MIGRATION.

LONDON, Oct. 16

The Right Hon. W. L. Mackenzie King (Prime Minister of Cauda) is visiting London. At a. dinner given in his honour by the Canada Club he referred to constitutional matters which are peculiar to the dominion. “Self-government,” be said, “Is the inheritance which is ours in the virtue of .the British Constitution. It is selfgovernment which lias kept and which keeps, and which will continue to keep, the British Dominions loyal to the British Crown, bet that fact never be forgotten, for an understanding of all the rest presupposes a full knowledge of it. “ If, over 30 years ago, the principle of entrusting Canadian interests to Canadians was sound with respect to the nogotiatios;of a commercial treaty, is not the principle equally sound of entrusting to Canadians the re iresentatiou of Canadian interests wlieiovci and whenever existing circumstances appear to disclose the wisdom or necessity of such a stop? I submit all that has transpired in that interval oi time to show how very sound it is.

LOGICAL LAST STEP.

“The establishment of a Canadian Legation in Paris, as in Washington, is hut the logical last step in the many stops which have marked the full attainment of self-government by Canada with respect to Canadian interests, whether domestic or external. “And here I need scarcely say that the stop which lias been taken in the establishment of the Canadian legations, alike in the United States and France ,Ims been taken not only with the consent and goodwill of the Government of Great Britain and of his Majesty's Ambassadors in Washington and Paris, hut witTi the active and helpful co-operation of both.”

MIGRATION POLICY

Mr King; also' outlined very clearly and conobdlv- the Canadian Government’s, policy in regard to'migration. The oroblem, he said, in effect,- resolved itself hjrgely in an endeavour to find the happy mean between two extremes. On the one side, the Govern, ment had to resist pressure from the class which desired unrestricted labour, and at the same time equally to avoid falling imn the trap set by those desirous of unduly restricting the inflow of im'i'i'zrants. and thereby keeping up wages.

“ I wish, once and for all. to say here and now.” lie added “ that Canada wants immigrants, that, above all, she wants them from the B»’ : Gsh Isles, from England. Scotland,'and Ireland, and that she is prepared to receive all who, as a part of the natural flow of immigration from the British Isles to the dominions, are prepared to come.” So far a.s physical fitness, mental condition, and moral |i>tractef,"of immigrants wore ..Canada did not demand one inlay more... than England, Scotland, or Ireland demanded of those who sought entrance into the British Dies. To epftain■ classes from Britain Canada was prepared to grant assistance which wipi Id not ho given to immigrants from other countries. What they were not- nrepared to do—find this he believed accounted for most, if not all, the misrepresentation which lmd taken place with resnoet to alleged restrictions was to pay all classes regardless of whether their previous associations, occupations, or their training fitted them for the particular classes of work for which there was a special demand.

Air King finally referred to the fallacy that migrants of non-British stock were preferred. As showing how false and misleading such an inference was, the Canadian Prime Minister cited the report of an All-Party Committee of the Dominion Parliament, which found.>that while 16.76 dollars per head Artis' expended from Canadian funds oti settlors from the British Isles, only 11. : .cents were spent on immigrants from Europe.