EMPIRE SETTLERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 April 1922, Page 5

EMPIRE SETTLERS.

BRITAIN’S BIG SCHEME. . ' V TO SPEND MILLIONS. MEN FOR DOMINIONS. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, April 12. The text of the Empire Settlement Bill provides for co-operation. with the Governments of the Dominions, or approved private organisations in agreed schemes, jointly assisting suitable persons to settle in the Dominions. The State contribution to any such scheme is not to exceed half the expenses of the scheme. The expenditure under the Act is not to exceed £1,500,000 for the first year and £3,000,000 for any subsequent year. Received April 13, 10.10 p.m. London, April 12. Sir James Mitchell (Premier of West Australia), interviewed by the Australian Press Association, commended the British Immigration Bill, the text of j which, has been issued. He said it I would enable the Dominions to secure a • bigger inflow of immigrants then would be otherwise financially possible. Referring to the clause providing that the aggregate Imperial expenditure shall not exceed £1,500,000 for the first year and then £3,000,000 yearly, he expressed the opinion that tne terms were not only merely generous, but of the greatest importance apart from the amount, because if Parliament approved it would establish for the first time in British history the principle of British financial co-operation in migration. He pointed out that the Bill committed the Government to fifteen years’ payments, aggregating over £40.000,000, which was much greater than the most optimistic could have anticipated. The parts of the Bill which appealed most to Sir James Mitchell were: Firstly, provision for Imperial financial assistance in the development of land settlement schemes and migrants’ passages, initial assistance to migrants, and special training for intending migrants; secondly. authorisation for financial co-operation with approved private organisations, either in the United Kingdom or the Dominions, promoting settlement overseas.

Mr. Percy Hunter (Director of Immigration for Australia), interviewed, said the Bill marked a dramatic change in the British attitude towards settlement in the Dominions. It meant that Britain became a partner with the Dominions in schemes for moving people from over-populated Britain to the underpopulated Dominions. The Bill differed from all previous proposals by the fact that whereas they were post-war ment projects, this proposes to establish a permanent principle, equally applicable to ex-service men and to civilians. “It is a complete revolution of ideas and probably destined to change the future of the British Empire,” he added.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.