OVERSEA SETTLEMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 March 1920, Page 6

OVERSEA SETTLEMENT.

HAMPERED BX SHIPPING SCARCITY. NEW EXODUS TO DOMINIONS. Bj Telc^ipii.—Prf3S Asan.—Copyrlelit. London, Feb. 27The report for 1!)11) of the Oversea Settlement Committee, of which Lord Milner (Secretary of State for the Colonies) is president and Colonel L, C. Amorv (Under-Secretary for the Colonies) chairman, says that settlement last, year was hampered by lack of shipping. A large movement is expected to the Dominions in 18-20. It is pointed out that the Dominions' chief need at present is men to settle the land and women to undertake domestic work. Consideration has l)cen devoted to the question whether the encouragement of such immigration is desirable in view of the prime needs of Great Britain,- which bears the main burden of debt for the war and must make provision for Imperial defence in the near future.- The committee contends that a constant flojv overseas for the settlement of lands, there is desiratile if regulated in accordance with what the United Kingdom can afford and the Dominions can conveniently absorb. The committee asserts that the migration of women and juveniles, especially girls, should be encouraged Iby the Government to destinations within the Empire, The committee describes the steps taken as regards the migration of women from the United Kingdom, in view of their surplus over men and mentioned the dispatch of women delegate investigators to Australia and New Zealand. Their reports are expected in the spring. The committee says that obviously no action should, be taken to fill industrial vacancies overseas ■save at the request of the 'Dominion Governments Concerned and with the Home Government's concurrence. PAST POLICY CRITICISED. i The committee attributes the unauitaliility of many settlers sent out hitherto to the ill-directed policy of some voluntary societies, also to the system by which private agents, who registered as shipping agents, induced people to buy tickets for overseas. They also derived benefit in the shape of bonuses of from £3 to £"), which was paid by individuals or by local and Government authorities anxious to attract settlers. The report of the. committee points out that successful trade agreements with the Dominions can have no lasting effect unlchs. equal care is taken in the distribution and employment of the population. The committee recommends the convocation of any -early conference on oversea settlement" between the Imperial and Dominion Governments; secondly, an annual expenditure not exceeding £IOO.OOO in - 19201021 with a view to securing adequate supervision in Great Britain and adequate co-operation with the Dominions' Government::. This expenditure will be additional to the raillion likely tb be. required in 192.0-21: thirdly, the immediate enactment of legislation to supervise and control passage brokers' and agents in onl'er to safeguard settlers, particularly ex-ser-vice men and women, to control propaganda or advertisements connected with oversea settlement within the Empire or emigration' to foreign countries.