§ SIR EARDLEY WILMOTasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether, in view of the rapid increase of population, and the consequent overstocked condition of the labour market in the Metropolis and elsewhere, Her Majesty's Government will consider the advisability of reviving the Department of Emigration, established by Earl Russell in 1840, but discontinued in 1877?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYThe Department of Emigration, to which the hon. Member refers, was established when our principal Colonies were without responsible Government, when their public lands were still held by the Imperial Government, who, out of the proceeds of sales, conducted emigration from home, and when the administration of the Passenger Acts—now transferred to the Board of Trade—rested with, the Colonial Office. Owing to the change of circumstances in all the foregoing respects, such a Department would now have nothing to do; and Her Majesty's Government would be unwilling in any way to interfere with the successful Emigration Agencies of the Colonial Governments.
§ SIR EARDLEY WILMOTIs the hon. Gentleman not aware that the 911 Colonial Governments are extremely anxious that a union for the purposes of emigration should be made with the Government over here, so as to facilitate emigration?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYCertain proposals of that sort have from time to time been made; but nothing bearing on the Question of the hon. Member.