§ COLONEL HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been called to the continued increase of the emigration from Continental Europe to the United Kingdom, amounting last month to 22,295 persons, an addition of 8,868 over the same month in 1891, of whom 3,793, or 1,215 more than last 893 year, had no intention of endeavouring to enter the United States; and if he has observed that while May, 1891, brought only 166 aliens to Hull and Grimsby, 674 landed last month at these ports of the manufacturing districts of Yorkshire and Lancashire, notwithstanding the serious depression and lack of employment for the home population in the hardware and textile industries; and if he is now able to name a day when the contemplated measure on the subject of this foreign invasion will be introduced, having regard to the fact that unless it is dealt with in this Parliament it must continue unchecked throughout the winter?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. MATTHEWS,) Birmingham, E.Yes, Sir. The figures quoted by my hon. and gallant Friend correctly give the number of immigrants who were actually stated to be en route to America; but I have reason to think that many of these aliens subsequently leave this country. Of the 674 aliens who landed at Hull and Grimsby in May, 1892, 186 were seamen. My hon. Friend will find that the increased immigration for the whole of this year comes mainly from Gothenburg, Christiania, and other ports, and not from Hamburg, which is the port whence the destitute aliens are likely to come. Hamburg has this year sent 5,993 immigrants more than in the corresponding period last year—a number not sufficient to cause alarm or to constitute a case of immediate urgency. I am not able to name a day for the introduction of the measure dealing with this subject.
§ MR. FENWICK (Northumberland, Wansbeck)Have any steps been taken to ascertain how many of these immigrants were the descendants of British parents?
§ MR. MATTHEWSNo, I am not aware of that.
MR. JAMES LOWTHER (Kent, Thanet)When the right hon. Gentleman speaks of those who are en route for America, how does he draw the distinction? Are these persons required to show their through tickets?
§ MR. MATTHEWSYes, that is so. Those having through tickets are described as being en route for America, and others not having through tickets leave for destinations unknown.