§ EARL WINTERTON (Sussex, Horsham)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if his attention has been called to the growing dissatisfac- 1650 tion on the part of the Parliament and people of the Dominion of Canada with the system adopted by certain charitable agencies in this country of paying the cost of the migration of persons of known bad character and proved unfitness for work to the Dominion; and whether the Secretary of State will consider the advisability of issuing a Memorandum to all such agencies urging them in future to encourage all undesirables who wish to emigrate to go, not to the Dominion or to any portion of the British Empire, but to some other undeveloped country.
§ COLONEL SEELYThe Canadian Government have already taken steps to supervise the action of charitable agencies in this country in sending emigrants to Canada by prescribing that after the 15th of April last all emigrants sent to Canada by such agencies must obtain certificates from the Canadian emigration authorities that they are suitable settlers for Canada. A warning to this effect is printed in the quarterly circular issued by the Emigrants' Information Office.
SIR GILBERT PARKERWhen the hon. Gentleman speaks of "emigration authorities" does he mean those here or in Canada?
§ COLONEL SEELYThose here.
§ MR. VINCENT KENNEDYasked if the Canadian Government were not paying a bounty of £1 per head for all emigrants front Ireland. Would copies of the warning be sent to the Irish emigration agents?
§ COLONEL SEELYIt is circulated to all emigration offices. I will see that it is sent to those in Ireland.
§ MR. LUPTON (Lincolnshire, Sleaford)Is it the intention of the Government to secure for the Colonies the pick of the people of our own country and to leave us with the remnants?
§ COLONEL SEELYNo; the hon. Member must not assume anything of the kind.