§ MR. HAZLETON (Galway, N.)I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the Canadian Government pays the sum of £1 (one pound sterling) to shipping agents in Ireland on every ticket they sell to emigrants from Ireland to the Dominion of Canada; and whether, in view of the fact that such encouragement of the Irish emigration evil is injurious to the welfare of Ireland, he 352 will make representations to the Canadian Government to have this practice discontinued without delay.
§ MR. CHURCHILLMy right hon. friend has asked me to answer this Question. The hon. Member is right in supposing that the Canadian Government, being desirous of stimulating immigration to the Dominion, pay a bonus of £1 to booking agents in respect of each immigrant from Great Britain and Ireland belonging to certain prescribed classes. This bounty, though no doubt acting as a stimulus, does not appear to be the sole or even the main cause of the excessive emigration from Ireland which now prevails; and the remedy must, I think, be of a more comprehensive character than would attach to such representations as the hon. Member suggests.