EMIGRATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 July 1921, Page 5

EMIGRATION.

DEVELOPING DOMINIONS.

FREE PASSAGE SYSTEM.

SETTLERS OX THE LAND.

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright

London, June 29.

/he report of the inquiry of the Colonial Office Emigration Commission formed the subject of a special session at the Empire Conference to-day.

It is understood the report recommends that the system' of free passages for ex-service men be extended to civilians and their dependents, provided it is acceptable to the Dominions. It also recommends the British Government to allocate a loan of £2.000,000 annually for the purpose of assisting settlers on the land at the rate of £3OO per settler. According to the report to the Colonial Office of the Emigration Conference, held In January and February, which forms the basis of the present negotiations, the British Government does not favor financing on a large scale land settlement, which Mr. Millen proposed. It prefers a system of loans to individuals through the Dominion Governments who will be responsible for recommending advances and collecting repayments. All assisted emigration will be limited to primary producers. The nexq scheme begins in the middle of next year, after the cessation of the ex-service scheme. PREMIERS’ VIEWS.

Mr. Churchill presided and stated that the Government was much concerned in the development of the in the interest of Empire trade development and defence, and was eager to co-operate with the Dominion Governments in the promotion of land settlement, but dissociated emigration from unemployment difficulties. Mr. Hughes said Australia, with a population of five millions, had expended over £69,000,000 on repatriating soldiers. Mr. Hughes promised co-operation, provided emigrants were settlers on the land, but indicated that the British allocation was inadequate if extensive settlements were contemplated.

Mr. Massey pointed out that New Zealand had absorbed 10,000 immigrants last yea.-, but owing to the limited land areas available, was unable to take immigrants on a much larger scale.

A committee compr’sing Sir Ge-jrge Perley (Canada i. Sir Jam* l ’ Allen (New Zealand), Mr. Mentz (South African Defence Minister), and Mr. Percy Hunter, were appointed to inquire and report to the Conference at the end. DEFINITE PROPOSALS. The Emigration Committee will begin its sittings to-day for the purpose of considering the following proposals, submitted by Colonel Amery, chairman of the Overseas Settlement Committee, on behalf of the British Government. Of the advance made by the Overseas Government regarding assisted passages, Colonel Amery proposes that one-third be chargeable to the emigrant; child emigration to be wholly free, otherwise no free passages are proposed after the cessation of the aid to exservice men; there will be an annual grant to a miximum of two millions for the purposes of St ate-directed migration, of which one million will be applied to assisted passages and one million applied to land settlement in the form of advances to settlers, a maximum of £3OC each payable through the Overseas Governments, these advances to reckon pan passu with the scheme.