NEW SETTLERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 January 1921, Page 5

NEW SETTLERS.

EMPIRE FOR BRITISHERS. AN IMPORTANT CONFERENCE. FINANCING THE SCHEME. By Telegraph.—-Press Assn.—Copyright, Received Jan. 29, 5.5 p.m. London, Jan. 28. Lord Milner (Secretary for the Colonies) presided at an Empire Settlement Conference. Sir James Allen re* presented New Zealand, Senator E. D. Millen represented Australia, and Sir George Perley represented Canada. The Imperial Treasury was also represented. South Africa was not represented, and the Agents-'General of the Australian States and the Canadian provinces are not participating, leaving representation to the Dominions. Lord Milner explained that the conference related to State-aided Empire settlement—emigration was the wrong term to use in this connection. The proposals related to the transhipment of the British population within the confines of the Empire, and had no relation to emigration, which, strictly interpreted, meant losing the Empire population to foreign countries. It was suggested that this matter called for the co-operation of the whole of th? Empire Governments. Sir James Allen agreed, but deprecated spasmodic migration. He advocated regularized continuity. Mr. Millen elaborated a scheme under which the British and the Australian Governments would co-operate in the provision of finances in the shape of a loan, whereby selected areas of Crown lands could be developed by means of railways, roads, bridges, water supply, and other works, whereon settlers would be employed contemporanously with clearing, tilling, and cropping the lands. Mr. Millen pointed out that the greater part of the suitable lands were already freehold, and to resume possession of them would be costly, whereas suitable I Crown lands were inaccessible; hence the necessity \of railways and other amenities accompanying settlement. He suggested Burnett Driver, Queensland, as a suitable district to inaugurate the scheme. The Treasury representative replied in the negative, pending fuller details. Mr Millen undertook to formulate proposals. Subsequently, Sir George Perley said Canada was sympathetic towards Empire settlement, but preferred to adopt a waiting attitude for the present. The conference adjourned till Monday, when Mr. L. C. Amery (Under-Secretary for the Colonies) will preside.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.