WOMEN IMMIGRANTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 221, 18 March 1914, Page 4

WOMEN IMMIGRANTS.

One of the problems of Kmpiro wa» referred to in a cable message from London dated .March 13, viz., the distribution \>f population, and more especially the rectification of tlie inequality of the sexes. Great Britain has over a million superfluous women, while in many of the oversea dominions there is an overplus of males. The Bishop of Yukon, addressing a meeting of the British Women's Emigration Association in London last week, stated that in Canada there are 80,000 more men than women, and he said that the remedyas is palpable (o most people—was U get a sullieient number of British women to go to Canada as servants, teachers, nurses and wives. At the same meeting Lord I'lunkot, a former Governor of New Zealand, referred to the dangers that beset women immigrants to Australia and New Zealand, emphasising the need of more matrons for the proper supervision of female immigrants on shipboard. All this is, to a large extent, simply a repetition of what is contained in the second interim report of the Dominions Royal Commission, which was issued in January last. Jn tile Course of that document the question of female immigration is dealt with and is recognised as one of great importance. The Commissioners state:--"The excess of male population in the dominions is relatively more marked than is the excess of female population in the United Kingdom. . . It would appear at first sight both simple and desirable to supply the deficiency of the dominions by drafts from the superabundance of the Mother Country, But closer analysis shows that the process, of levelling is more complicated than at first appears." Of the total surplus female population of England and Wales —amounting to 1,179,000 in 1911 — J 010,000 were over -10 years of age—a remarkable fact, which, the Commissioners think, justifies the opinion that "the greatest care is needed before making any pronouncement as to the extent of a surplus of women in the Mother Country available for immigration." The Commission is arranging for further investigation into this point and promises to return to it in its final report. In the meantime they strongly condemn the methods of recruiting immigrant'; of all kinds in England. They recommend that greater use should be made of the Labor Exchanges, and more especially of that part of their -organisation which deals with the employment of juvenile labor. They also think that better facilities should be provided for the training of emigrants in agricultural work of an elementary kind either before they leave England or as soon as they reach Australasia. Returning to the question of female immigrants, the Commissioners held that the shipping arrangements required to be improved, ind that there should be at least one

matron for every twenty girl immigrants, who should have a separate deck set apart for them. With these (fondusions most people will agree, and it is to lie hoped the authorities will see. that they are acted on. The "essential requirements in immigrants" (to quote the words of the report) is youth, in tlie ease of both sexes; and in view of the statistics of age already quoted, it become doubtful whether the surplus females in England are available or suitable for the dominions. The problem of keeping the population British at once comes to the surface. Jt may, however, be said that German, Swiss and .Scandinavian women would be quite as acceptable in this country as British women, and if they are young, adaptable and properly taught, they Would he in every way desirable additions U the population.