HC Deb 03 July 1884 vol 289 cc1865-6
MR. SAMUEL SMITH

asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether his attention has been called to the fact that, whereas great exertions are being made by emigration agents and others to stimulate the immigration into Queensland, there is a great want of employment there, and great distress among the newly imported immigrants; whether the position of young women who have been induced to emigrate there is one of hardship and danger; whether his attention has been called to the following statement, in a letter to Mr. T. Pierce, recently returned from Queensland:— It is very painful to see so many of the immigrants weeping like children, not knowing where to turn, thinking of the home in England, which they once had; they saw their mistake. and, whether he has any information showing that the statements of Mr. T. Pierce are well founded or not?

MR. EVELYN ASHLEY

The only official information we have of the matters to which my hon. Friend's Question relates is contained in the Immigration Correspondence laid before the Parliament of Queensland. I find in those Papers that at the beginning of 1882 the Queensland Government decided to increase the moneys voted for promoting immigration, and in November of last year the Governor informs the Executive Council that there is a large demand for single women as domestic servants, and a considerable demand for single men, especially of the class of farm labourers. In January of this year I find the Agent General writing from London to the Colonial Secretary, and saying that on questioning the immigrants he ascertained that a great many were going to join friends already in the Colony, who, in all cases, had sent home encouraging accounts. Our official information does not, therefore, bear out the statements of the letter referred to, and which my hon. Friend has been good enough to let me read in full. I can, however, throw out a suggestion which may, perhaps, reconcile those conflicting views. There has been recently, both in Queensland and New South Wales, a most severe drought, with the result of driving into the towns many labourers who were thrown out of work. But the drought, I am glad to say, is over, and the inconvenience and suffering only of a temporary character.