45

A.—6a

that confidence and stability belong to the Empire: as a whole. We believe in you—in your capacity for development, in your assured progress and prosperity; anel, holding that faith, we: need not regard our economic difficulties as an insurmountable: barrier to progress. Djuiis of Scheme need Improvement. As regards the political and psychological obstaoles to migration, it is our duty, 1 woulel suggest, to take every precaution both on our side and em yours to secure, so far as it is humanly possible, that failures shall be'eliminated, and that, alike in small matters and great, would-be settlers shall receive the utmost consideration in their recruitment here, their journeying overseas, and their reception in the Dominions. I would suggest, therefore, that when we, go into committee we should scrutinize: vigorously the possibilities of improving the arrangements for selection and recruitment of migrants in this country, and for their reception and supervision overse;as ; that, we should examine the question whether more might not be clone in the matter of training ; and whe:ther the; strangeness of new surroundings, the deterrent effect of the vast distances which will separate: the: new settler from his home and all that he has known in the- past, could not be, mitigated by some system of group settlement which woulel enable- settlers from some particular county in Great Britain, or groups of persons bound -together by religious or social ties, to be: established together in the same area overseas. We, have given much thought here to possibilities under these various heads, and I shall hope to be able, to make some suggestions when we are discussing these matters in committee. Different Categories of Settlers to be encouraged. I think also we neeel a clearer idea as to the: particular categories eif settlers who shall be encouraged. (1.) Juveniles. I plae-.e juveniles first. Youth anil adaptability are the chief qualifications for successful migration, anel the young provide the Dominions with the best material for the foundation of the: citizenship the;y require. On our side; we; have in this country something like, five hundred and fifty thousand young people, rather more: than half of theim boys, leaving school anel coming upon the labeiur-market every year. The- problem of absorbing the-ni into industry at the. moment is an exceptionally grave one, and the times see:m peculiarly apt for encouraging their migration overseas, (2.) Families. After juveniles, I plae;e: family migration. This is the iele;al form of migration, but it is a, difficult one to eleal with. The: nee:el eif maintenance: for the mother and lu-r children while the father is finding his feet and the need of housing-accommoeiation are both obstacles, but splendid types of settlers are turned away in large numbers every year simply because, they have family ties, and I feel very stremgly that we, ought to grapple with this problem. (3.) Women. Female migration, too, is a most important branch. Your vital statistics show a marked excess of men eiver women, a startling contrast to the situation in. Great Britain, and tin- more remarkable still when one reflects upon the heavy losses of men in the war. Yet women are' essential to settlement. They are wanted to help in creating the new communities and making the new homes and the: new home life which must be established if new districts overseas are to be successfully opened up. Here in Great Britain, as you are no doubt aware, we have a large excess of women over men, amounting at the last census to nearly two millions. On the other hand, the tendency is for male migration largely to exceed female. In the forty years, for instance, between 1871 to 1911 the number of male migrants from England anel Wales exceeded the: female by nearly six hundred thousand, The: mutual advantage of some adjustment of the; female population is obvious. (4.) Public-school Boys. About one othe;r category I should like: te> say a word. Owing to the: reduction in the Army and Navy, the Civil Service, anel particularly the: Indian Civil Service, the opportunities for the boys of our public schools are far fewer than they use;d to be, and they are now looking further afield. In the;se days many of them woulel be unable: to settle, overseas without some assistance;, and I venture to think this is an opportunity which you in the Dominions might well wish to take into account. Suggestions invited from Dominions. In this statement 1 have tried to tell you what has been accomplished, to outline the difficulties which attach themselves to the: problem of oversea settlement, and to indicate; certain lines on which we think progress might be made. Let me add that we also look forward eagerly to receiving suggestions from the representatives of the Dominions who are here assembled. As is recorded in the memorandum alreaeiy in your hands, His Majesty's Government are prepared on their side to oonsider any proposals that may be; put forward by yeiu for co-operation in schemes of Empire settlement and migration. Policy underlying the Movement. May I, in conclusion, say just one word about the: policy which underlies the whole movement ? It is a great policy, a noble, policy, and a vital policy. I hope I have said enough to show you that we are in earnest about it. We dei not look upon it as something which will enable us to avoid our