BRITISH EMIGRATION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8347, 6 February 1913, Page 6

BRITISH EMIGRATION

Legislation designed to check th* hitherto rathe.r free arrival of immigrants into the United States of America is now under consideration, a Bill with tho object stated having been introduced hy Senator Dnrnett. Of ths white population of the States, some 82,000,000, about 28,000,000 were acquired by immigration, and the respective ratios of increase by reproduction and by immigration have been undergoing a notable change during the last sixty years. For the decade ended ia 1850 tho total increase in population equalled 33.87 per cent., of which 25.83 per cent, represented the excess of births over deaths and 10.04 per cent, the margin of arrivals over departures. By steady degrees the position changed until by 1910 it was reversed. In the 1000-1910 decennuim there was a total swelling of tho population of just under sixteen millions, equivalent to 21.02 per cent., immigration accounting for tho greater half —11.57 per cent., as against 9.45 per cent, from reproduction. As tho United States will very soon contain a hundred million people, there seems reason in a proposition to begin to exercise a greater, measure of selection of immigrants. The matter is not without interest to ns, as was pointed out in yesterday’s cables, since the passing of legislation of the kind contemplated is sure to set prospective emigrants in the United Kingdom examining tho prospects offered by British countries oversea. Every year there is a substantial stream of migration from Britain to America, the net loss to tho former in the five years 1907 to 1911 inclusive amounting to over 311,000 persons. If this movement is diverted so that emigrants remain under their own flag it will bo well. The supply of Britishers for, peopling the sparsely-populated portions of the Empire is by no means inexhaustible, though there is hardly any limit to the available space in the Dominions—provided, as wo have always insisted, that adequate measures aro taken for profitable absorption of tho now comers. Probably Canada stands to gain most from a restriction of British migration to tho United States. This would bo much preferable to her latest enterprise in importing shiploads of people from Austria.