§ Sir CLEMENT KINLOCH - COOKEasked the Under-Secretary for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the statement made by Mr. Fischer, the Union (South Africa) Minister of Lands, that he does not disagree with the refusal of the Home Government to assist immigrants to the Colonies because assisted immigrants are not likely to be desirable settlers; whether the Government accepts Mr. Fischer's conclusion respecting the status of assisted emigrants; whether he is aware that 9,140 persons (men, women, and children) have been emigrated by the Central (Unemployed) Body for London between 23rd November, 1905, and 31st May, 1910, which emigration has been carried out under the direct sanction of Parliament; whether he has received any complaint from any of the Governments representing the countries to which those emigrants have been sent suggesting that the persons selected for emigration by the Central (Unemployed) Body for London under the provisions of the Unemployed Workman Act, 1905, have not proved themselves desirable settlers; and, if so, whether he will communicate the same to the House?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY for the COLONIES (Colonel Seely)I have seen a Press telegram giving the substance of a speech to this effect by Mr. Fischer. No complaints have been received by the Secretary of State with regard to emigrants sent out by the Central (Unemployed) Body. Such emigrants are dealt with on arrival by the Colonial authorities, who are not subject to the control of His Majesty's Government in this matter and make no report to the Secretary of State.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these emigrants are sent out under Act of Parliament?
§ Colonel SEELYOf course, the authorities were permitted by the Unemployed Act to devote funds to this purpose.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEWhat is the bearing of the new regulations in Canada on the provisions of the Act as applied to emigration?
§ Colonel SEELYI think the hon. Gentleman knows that the whole question of the exclusion of assisted emigrants in so far as they will not work on the land, is under consideration. I do not think it would be advisable to go into a technical discussion of the particular bearing of Acts of Parliament in a matter of such very great importance, and on which I hope we shall soon arrive at a satisfactory conclusion.