§ Sir CLEMENT KINLOCH - COOKEasked the Under - Secretary for the Colonies whether he will now consider the advisability, in the best interests of the homeland and of the self-governing Dominions oversea, of taking advantage of the resolution passed at the last Imperial Conference to hold a subsidiary conference on the question of emigration and immigration, to which should be summoned special appointed representatives of all the Governments concerned?
§ Colonel SEELYHis Majesty's Government are not prepared to consider the 1308 possibility of summoning a special conference on emigration unless there is clear indication that the Governments of the self-governing Dominions desire such a conference.
Sir GILBERT PARKERDoes the right hon. Gentleman intend that this question of immigration and co-operative emigration should be placed on the agenda of the Imperial Conference?
§ Colonel SEELYI hope to be able to make a statement about the agenda of the Imperial Conference very shortly and to be able to publish papers on the subject.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEIf the subject is placed on the agenda paper will the right hon. Gentleman see that the Prime Ministers of our self-governing Colonies get longer notice than they got on the last occasion?
§ Colonel SEELYIf the hon. Gentleman means to imply that on the last occasion we did not give due notice I am afraid I cannot accept his statement. I hope we shall give adequate notice of all such matters.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the Under-Secretary for the Colonies whether his attention had been called to the statement made by the President of the Local Government Board at the Imperial Conference, 1907, that it had been the settled policy of Parliament for some years not to grant votes of Imperial money for emigration; whether that was still the policy of His Majesty's Government; and, if so, would he inform the House how it was proposed to give effect to the resolution, proposed by Mr. Deakin and carried unanimously, to the effect that the Imperial Government be requested to co-operate with any Colony desiring immigrants in assisting suitable persons to emigrate?
§ Colonel SEELYI am aware of the statement referred to. The policy, as stated by my right hon. Friend at the Conference, is still the policy of His Majesty's Government. As to the question of co-operation with the Dominions I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Gentleman's question on 22nd June.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the Under-Secretary for the Colonies whether his attention had been called to the statement made by the President of the Local Government Board at the Imperial Con- 1309 ference, 1907, that if the Colonies think that the work done by any of the Home emigration agencies was of such a character that it might be improved upon, the Government would be only too pleased to respond to any advice, suggestion, or information; whether the Government had received any such advice, suggestion, or information; and if so, what action had been taken or is it proposed to take in the matter?
§ Colonel SEELYI am aware of the statement in question, which still holds good, but no suggestions of the kind have, so far, been received from any of the Dominion Governments since the Conference of 1907.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the Under-Secretary for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the statement made by Mr. Deakin, late Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia, at the Imperial Conference, 1907, that the Agents-General of the several States of Australia thought that no effective assistance was being given to them by the Emigrants' Information Office; whether he is aware that in replying to this criticism the President of the Local Government Board said that the reorganisation of the Emigrants' Information Office is under consideration; and whether he will inform the House what steps have been taken, or what steps it is proposed to take, in the matter of reorganising the Emigrants' Information Office?
§ Colonel SEELYI am aware of the statements referred to. No steps have been taken to alter the functions and organisation of the Emigrants' Information Office.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEDoes the right hon. Gentleman state that His Majesty's Government will take any such steps?
§ Colonel SEELYThere is no present intention. I mean no intention at the moment. The whole question is a very difficult one, and it is not one that we can possibly discuss usefully, I think, by question and answer.
§ Mr. LAWSONIs the whole subject now under the consideration of the Colonial Secretary?
§ Colonel SEELYThe question is embarrassing because the hon. Gentleman knows that I had a consultation with him 1310 on the subject. There is no immediate prospect of a change being made, but the matter is important and demands consideration.