EMIGRANTS SUCCEED.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 December 1922, Page 5

EMIGRANTS SUCCEED.

FEW FAILURES REPORTED

DELIGHTED WITH PROSPECTS ANSWER TO LORD HAIG. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Dec. 5, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 4. Officers of the Overseas Settlement Committee are surprised at Earl Haig’s strictures, alleging failure of emigration of ex-service men. They state that approximately 85,000 souls were despatched overseas under the free passage scheme, and the opinion is expressed that no emigration has been attended by a smaller percentage of failures. Investigation shows that the number of dissatisfied migrants returning to Britain from Australia is greatly exaggerated. On one occasion, when it was stated that a boatload was returning, inquiry showed that the actual number was two. Many migrants had written expressing deep grat - tude and delight with their new surroundings and prospects in the Commonwealth. Letters expressing dissatisfaction were com paratively rare, and in many of these cases the migrants themselves had been proved not to be blameless.

Prior to the establishment of the present scheme a number of men emigrated. Some failed, and inquiry showed that they were completely unfitted, physically and temperamentally. They lacked the necessary finance, and should never have been selected to emigrate. The committee sums up the position by stating that its experience does not suggest there is any foundation for the statement that there is anything in the nature of a general movement of migrants back to Britain.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

Earl Haig, speaking at Manchester, said he had received a telegram from a Dominion Governor asking for £lOOO to help exsoldiers who had emigrated. He was not going to advise emigration until he knew that things were right. Earl Haig added: “I want to hear of letters coming to our people from our Colonies saying: ‘There is plenty of work and you will be all right if you come to us. ? I have letters from places like Queensland and from some other Dominions, saying many of our gallant men who have gone out there are starving. I am not going to be so unfriendly to our unemployed ex-soldiers here as to advise them to emigrate, until I know things are all right. I am not going to tell them to leave here until the Dominions set their own houses in order.’’