The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 1913. BRITISH EMIGRATION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 62, 18 March 1913, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLE R. TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 1913. BRITISH EMIGRATION.

Tiie recent publication of a report on the natural resources of the British Overseas Dominions, brings somewnat into prominence the romantic and dramatic side of the tide of British emigration. At the present time the crjing need of British colon.es and dependencies is more rural population to help in the great work of producing foodstuffs and raw material for the London market. This is indicated in the interim report < f a iioyal Commission on emigration which explains that in making an inquiry into thfe question of migration they nave proceeded under that part of their order of reference which instructs them to inquire into possible development of the natural resources of the self-governing Dominions. The increase of population in those Dominions by means of migration from the United Kingdom appears to have an essential relation to their natural resources. The adoption of the term migration shows that the Commissioners who represent botli the live selfgoverning Dominions and the interests of the Old Country realise that proceeding from one part of Ids Majesty’s Dominions to another is no exodus, the London Telegraph remarks in reviewing this report. The improvements in communication have so bridged the leagues of ocean that removal from the United Kingdom to Canada, Australia, or New Zealand is not so great a separation from relatives and old associations as was formerly a removal from Scotland or Yorkshire to London, to which the term of emigration was more fittingly applied less than 100 years ago. “Itl is by migration,” adds the Telegraph,! “that the congestion of labour at' ’home can be most promptly and readily reduced, and the consequent unemployment, low wages, discontent, inadequate housing and feeding relieved. Overseas the laud is wait-

in<j; for labour to develop its resources, to open up new country to increasing production.” “Public Opinion” expresses the view that the phenomenal growtli of migration to Australasia, and the fact that practically all those entering Australasian ports are British as compared with the cosmopolitan crowd who daily enter Canada, are points of immense importance to the future of the Empire. The enormous number of nominated passengers proceeding to friends already in Aus-

tralia and Xow Zealand who have deposited the cost of a reduced fare with tho local Government is a proof both

of their own prosperity ;incl of their anxiety to yet their friends and relatives to share in it. Jhe “burstingup” of largo pastoral areas lor closes

settlement, and the added consumptive power of tlio inunigrants aie all

shown to be factors in the recent boom in Australia. The representatives of the various emigration societies all stated that they could double their work, generally without increase in expense, if their funds for assisting passengers were larger. In the evidence collected there is a general unanimity as to tlio desirability oi migration from the congested Old World to these newer lands within the Empire where there ought to be ample room and a hearty welcome tc new-comers of our own race.