CENTRAL EMIGRATION _ BOARD

Otago Witness, Issue 2813, 12 February 1908, Page 19

CENTRAL EMIGRATION _ BOARD

. i*p HOSTILE CRITICISM. LONDON," February 6. The sixth annual meeting of the Central Emigration Board was held at Lord Brassey's house. Sir_ Horace Tozer (Agent-general for Queensland) and Mr Collins (representative of tlie Commonwealth) were present, but Mr Coghlan (Agent-general for New South Wales) and Mi- Taverner (Agent-general for Victoria) wrote declining to attend on the ground that the persons the board selected to emigrate would be unwelcome in Australia, being mostly the failures of the towns. The report stated that 369 persons had emigrated, almost all of whom went to Canada, where employment was found. Lord Brassey said if the board were properly supported it would accomplish much more. Lord Ranfurly mo\ed a resolution pledging the meeting to support the board in promoting the emigration of suitable and desirable persons from the United Kingdom to the colonies. He stated that no one was sent who was unsuitable for cojonial life. Mr Jenkins (South Australian Agent* general) said ■the emigrants only needed ample pluck and a suitable start. Mr Rason (Western Australia) said thetype of emigrant wanted in Australia constantly varied. Each State Government must be the judge of who was suitable. Settlers on the land were principally required at present. The resolution was carried. Mr Bernard Wise (Sydney) moved a resolution in approval of the board's work, and said it was useless to send tha social driftwood of England to the Dominions over seas. Mr Kinloch Cooke claimed that th< fund entrusted to the board was administered by men of practical colonial experience. The motion was carried.