§ MR. GOURLEY (Sunderland)asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether Her Majesty's Government have arrived at any practical decision with regard to the establishment of emigration bureaux for the purpose of promoting, as promised early in the Session, a systematic system of State-directed emigration?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. OSBORNE MORGAN) (Denbighshire, E.)My hon. Friend is wrong in supposing that Her Majesty's Government have ever promised to promote a systematic scheme of State-directed emigration. What they did promise was, to establish one central office in London for the purpose of affording trustworthy information to persons desirous of emigrating to the Colonies. That promise they are, as I stated a week ago in answer to my noble Friend the Member for the Stratford-on-Avon Division of Warwickshire (Lord William Compton), now engaged in carrying out. Premises have been secured for an office in a central position, of which possession will be given from the 24th instant. The rooms are being fitted up, and it is hoped that in a very short time the active work of the office will be begun.