65

A.—6a

ANNTKX. IV.

Agreements entered into under the Empire Settlement Act, 1922. (i.) Schemes concluded up to 18th April, 1923. (a.) Passage Schemes. 1. A passage agreement, dated the 19th July, 1922, has been concluded with the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia for the assisted migration of suitable persons (men, women, and children) desiring to settle in the Commonwealth. Under this scheme the assistance normally takes the form of a free grant of one-third and a loan up to one-third of the cost of the passage. Additional assistance by way of loan is given in special cases towards the cost of passages, and. provision is made in necessitous cases for assistance towards other expenses. The cost of the assistance granted is shared equally by His Majesty's Government and the Commonwealth Government. The probable cost to His Majesty's Government during 1923-24 is approximately £420,000. 2. A passage agreement, dated the 28th August, 1922, has been concluded with the Government of New Zealand for the assisted migration of suitable persons (men, women, and children), the Dominion Government arid His Majesty's Government contributing upon an agreed scale by way of grant and loan towards the cost of passages. The probable cost to His Majesty's Government during 1923-24 is approximately £125,000. (b.) Land-settlement Schemes. (See Appendix 11 to Report of Committee on Oversea Settlement, page 74.) (c.) Other Schemes. 1. Passage agreements have been concluded with the Dominion of Canada providing for assistance to the following classes of settlers : — (a.) Children. —Grants of 80 dollars per head in respect of the transport expenses of 5,000 children (boys and girls) not less than eight years of age at the date of sailing, or who have not reached the age of fifteen years on the Ist April, 1923, and are sent to Canada under the auspices of a recognized child-migration society. The total cost to His Majesty's Government during 1923-24 will be approximately £50,000. (b.) Single Women.- —A loan of the minimum third-class fare to approved domestic household workers from port of embarkation in this country to their rail destination in Canada. The total cost to His Majesty's Government during 1923-24 will be approximately £50,000. (c.) Families. —A loan of 75 per cent, of the cost of transportation in the case of families nominated by a person of British birth domiciled in Canada and proceeding to agricultural employment. The total cost to His Majesty's Government during 1923-24 will be approximately '£50,000. 2. Ontario. An agreement, dated the Ist February, 1922, has been concluded with the Government of Ontario for assisting 2,000 single men and 2,000 single women to migrate to Ontario during a period of twleve months. The men will be, placed on farms and the women in household service. 3. Society for the Oversea Settlement of British Women Loan Fund.—An agreement lias been concluded, dated the 19th March, 1923, supplementing the Loan Fund of the society. Assistance will bo granted to suitable women settlers who are unable to bear the whole of the expenses of their journey overseas, and who are not eligible for assistance under agreements with oversea Governments. The estimated cost to His Majesty's Government during 1923-24 is approximately £2,500. (ii.) Schemes under Negotiation on 18th April, 1923. (a.) Land-settlement Schemes. (Since concluded : See Appendix II to the Report of the Committee on Oversea Settlement, page 74,) (b.) Other Schemes. 1. Salvation Army.—Agreements are nearing completion for dealing with, — (a.) Single women ; and (b.) Blind-alley boys. 2. Church Army- An agreement is nearing completion for training boys for farm work and girls for domestic service. 3. Dr. Barnardo's Homes. —An agreement has been drafted for assisting, as an experiment, parties of seventy-five boys and fifty girls to proceed to New South Wales, and is awaiting an indication of the amount of assistance which will be afforded by the Commonwealth Government. 4. Fellowship of the Maple Leaf -An agreement has been drafted, and is now with the society, for supplementing their Loan Fund, out of which they assist teachers to proceed to the western provinces of Canada. 5. Australian Farms (Limited). A scheme is being discussed whereby the company will raise a loan for a land-development scheme on condition— (a.) That the interest on the loan is guaranteed to them for a term of ten years ; and (b.) That they will raise at least an equivalent loan without a guarantee of interest. This scheme is now being considered by the directors of the company in Australia. 6. Child-emigration Society. —A scheme has been agreed in principle for assisting the Fairbridge Farm School in Western Australia with the provision of new buildings and the maintenance and training of additional children.

9—A. 6a.