EMIGRATION

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10230, 12 June 1911, Page 5

EMIGRATION

CABLE NEWS

United Press Association — By 'Electric Telegraph — Copyright-

Within the empirediscussion AT IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. (Reveivecl June 10, 1 p.m.) LONDON, June 9. The Imperial Conference resumed its sittings. Mr Harcourt (Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs) presided. Mr Fisher formally moved the reaffirmation of the 1907 emigration resolution : That it is desirable to encourage British emigrants to proceed to British colonies rather than to foreign countries. ' That the Imperial' Government be requested to co-operate with any colony during immigrants in assisting si:.'table persons to emigrate. i Mr Batchelor, Australian Minister j for External Apairs, said tFfe Confer- i ence would doubtless agree to encourage emigration within the Empire. Australia, like others, was drawing on Britain for portion of her population, and was naturally anxious that, the people of their own race should be kept within the Empire. There seemed to be some lack of precise informal tion in connection with the Emigrants' Information Department, and he suggested the inclusion of representatives of the Dominions on the committee. This would increase the committee's knowledge. » NEW ZEALAND.

Sir Joseph Ward said New Zealand did not favour a wholesale system of emigration, but naturally preferred Britons. It imposed a strict test, merely to exclude aliens. He saw no ..reason to change his 1907 views. Mr John Burns, President of the Local Government Board, said that since the last Conference the objects of the resolution had been secured to a great extent. The Dominions since 1907 had received 54 per cent of the British immigrants, and in 1910 68 per cent., while the figures for the four months of 1911, if maintained, would show a percentage of 80. In the latter period Australia and New Zealand had received 10,000 more than in the corresponding period of 1910. The increase had justified the work and organisation of the Emigrant Department. The type of emigrants had also improved. The emigration in 1910 represented 60 per cent of the Kingdom's natural increase. A lower death-rate and lower infantile mortality had alone prevented the drain being serious. With a diminishing birth-rate, it was unsafe for Britain to exceed 300,000 emigrants yearly. The Dominions were entitled to the overflow, but they must not empty the tank. He would advise the Conference to let well alone and trust the Mother Country.! He had nothing but praise for the way in which the Dominions had cared for emigrant children passing through his department'. There had been occasional complaints concerning the rigorous standard with regard, to adults., but this had lately been moro generous.

CONSIDERED SATISFACTORY; Mr Burns' statement was considered satisfactory. • >. , Mr Batehelor said that any effort to reduce the twenty per cent going outside the Empire would be appreciated.

Sir Joseph Ward said that if the Dominions received eighty per cent., that was as much as they could expect. He suggested altering the resolution to express approval of the policy that had been pursued, otherwL-e they might appear dissatisfied with what had been done. Mi' Fisher did not object. 'Mr Harcourt suggested, eliminating the proposed appointment of Dominion representatives on the Emigrants' Committee. The department had not been designed to promote emigration to any particular Dominion; its only object was to supply accurate information. If the question of representation was introduced, competition might arise. He would undertake to keep the information up-to-date. EDUCATION TEST.. Mr Fisher said Australia did not apply the education - test to europeans, although for five years a thousand newspapers had vilified them for not doing ro. There was greater knowledge of Australian affairs in England to-day than was the case nine years ago. He recognised that good work in various departments was affecting a change. AMENDED FJSSOLUTION. Mr Harcourt moved:— "That the present policy of encouraging emigrants to go to the Dominions in preference to foreign countries be continued, and that full co-operation be accorded the Dominions desiring emigrants." The amended resolution was adopted.