CANADIAN AFFAIRS.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 March 1921, Page 5

CANADIAN AFFAIRS.

SPREAD OF UNEMPLOYMENT. CHECK ON IMMIGRATION. GIFT WARSHIPS ARRIVE. The statement by Mr. Lloyd George that the question of unemployment in Great Britain might be solved by a comprehensive scheme of emigration to the British Dominions met with a somewhat mixed reception in Canada, where there is already a very grave unemployment problem, consequent upon the general world trade depression. A survey of British North America, from Halifax to Vancouver, shows that the wave of la|jor idleness is rapidly assuming startling proportions, and in some of the Eastern Canadian cities soup kitchens have had to be introduced to alleviate some of the distress that prevails, owing to hundreds of thousands of workers being thrown* into the ranks of the unemployed. Army huts have also been requisitioned in other cities to care for the homeless, and food is being doled out by charitable organisations and civic committees. From this it will be readily understood that Canada does not welcome any further addition to her population from overseas. In fact, only recently the Government passed an Order-in-Council raising from £l6 to £5O the qualification of admission for intending immigrants, this being necessitated to reduce the flood of immigration that had already set in To Canada, and to prevent an increase in the ranKs of the workless in the land.

Sir James Lougheed, Minister of the Interior of Canada, when seen in Calgary, Alberta, in reference to Mr. Lloyd George’s scheme, said:—“We have our unemployed problem in Canada as well as Britain, and we are placing drastic restrictions on immigration, our policy being to do nothing that will make industrial and labor conditions worse in this country. Immigration of British unemployed at the present time would not be a remedy for unemployent in Britain, but would aggravate it here.” An enthusiastic reception greeted the officers and men when H.M.C.S. Auroa, Patriot, and Patrician/the cruiser and two destroyers presented to Canada by Great Britain, anchored at Halifax, Nova Scotia. With tljem were the two submarines, HC 14 and 15. This squadron is the nearest thing to a navy that Canada has yet owned, and whether the Canadians regard it as a gift from Britain, or consider they are relieving Britain of the cost of maintaining this much of the Imperial sea force, the arrangement is generally accepted as a good one, pending the adoption of an Imperial naval policy. Announcement is made from Montreal that another important link in inter-Empire trade is being forged by the Canadian Government merchant marine. In addition to their service of cargo steamers to Australia from Vancouver, another line is to be established from St. John, New Brunswick, to Australia and New Zealand via the Panama Canal. The Canadian Planter, of 8060 tons, or a sister ship of similar tonnage, will open the dew service on January 29. Ships of this type have also a' limited first-class passenger accommodation. The service from the Atlantic will be maintained by larger vessels than those operating from Vancouver. The ports of call are to be Sydney and Brisbane, and Auckland and Wellington. During the summer months the original port of departure will probably be Montreal, the river St. Lawrence then being fully clear of ice-floes Canadians in no uncertain voice have made their views clear on the subject of goods from Germany. Gatherings of exsoldiers’ .associations have passed solemn resolutions never to purchase German goods of any description, and during the Christmas shopping Canadians showed a strong antipathy against German manufactures. It was feared that some of the Germn toys that gained entry io England would be found also in Canada, but, as a result of widespread inquiries, it is not known that any German toys were displayed in the Dominion. In ’fa’c.t, stores showed signs