§ MR. BRYCE (Aberdeen, S.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the attention of Her Majesty's Government has been drawn to the numerous delusive or misleading prospectuses and other circulars, emanating from various foreign countries, addressed to intending emigrants, and largely circulated in the United Kingdom, and to the misfortunes which often befall persons who, on the faith of these documents, emigrate to places where they find the advantages they have been led to expect are wholly wanting; whether the Government have considered the possibility of taking means to make better known the substance of the valuable Reports, bearing on the prospects which various foreign countries offer to emigrants, which are received from British Diplomatic and Consular Agents abroad, and to promote the wider diffusion of those publications of the Emigrants' Information Office which are largely based on these Reports; whether, in particular, they have considered, or will consider, whether some summary 920 of the above-mentioned Reports, embodying their salient points so far as necessary for the warning of emigrants, could be annually issued in such manner as to give it a good chance of wide diffusion; and if he could state what other methods, if any, are available for the purpose of conveying to those who most need it that information regarding the less desirable fields for emigration which at present exists but fails to secure the requisite publicity?
§ BARON H. DE WORMSPerhaps the hon. Member will allow me to answer the question. It is difficult to see what special machinery can be devised for more promptly dealing with the misleading prospectuses and circulars addressed to intending emigrants; but the matter has already been several times brought to the notice of Her Majesty's Consuls, and will be brought to that of the emigration officers of the Board of Trade. Any information so received will be placed at once at the disposal of the Emigrants' Information Office for publication. In future it is contemplated that that office, in addition to its present pamphlets and newspaper notices, shall cause printed warnings to be exhibited as occasion arises at the various ports of the United Kingdom, and compile an annual summary as suggested. Other means of diffusing the desired information have been, and will be, carefully considered.