§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the President of the Local Government Board whether the figures quoted by him at the last Imperial Conference, as representing the volume of emigration from this country, may be taken as representing the actual number of persons who during the periods named changed their domicile, or whether the figures included the ordinary travelling public other than those paying first-class fares?
§ Mr. BURNSThe figures which I quoted give the excess of passengers of British nationality who left the United Kingdom for countries outside Europe, over the passengers of British nationality who arrived from such countries, and must be taken as representing as nearly as practicable the number of persons who changed their domicile.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the President of the Local Government Board on what data he bases the statement that the quality of emigrants to all parts of the British Empire has been better in the last two or three years than it has been in any two or three years in the last fifteen or twenty years; and whether it is intended to imply that during the last two or three years His Majesty's Government have taken any special steps to bring about this state of affairs, and, if so, what steps?
§ Mr. BURNSIt is perhaps only necessary to refer the hon. Member to such a statement as appears in the Report of the Commissioner of Immigration at Winnipeg for the year ended 31st March, 1910. He says: "The ordinary observer cannot fail to be struck by the obvious improvement in the physique and general character of 1541 the immigrants who are coming to Canada not only this year, but during the year before. … I have been very much struck with the greatly improved quality of the immigration from Great Britain and Ireland, and more particularly from England."
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEWill the right hon. Gentleman give the name of the Commissioner of Emigration at Winnipeg to whom he refers?
§ Mr. BURNSI believe the name of the gentleman was Mr. Bruce Walker. But whether that be his name or not the statement made can be confirmed by everybody in this country who sees the class of emigrants going from either Euston, Liverpool or Glasgow.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEIs he not the gentleman who occupied the position now held by Mr. Obed Smith, namely, that of Assistant - Superintendent of Emigration for Canada in London? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Mr. Bruce Walker, after he had vacated that position here, wrote a pamphlet adversely affecting the emigration work of the voluntary societies in this country, which pamphlet was officially circulated by the Dominion Government?
§ Mr. BURNSThat does not arise out of the question, but I should be sorry to believe everything that appeared in pamphlets.
§ Mr. CROFTIs it not a matter of grave concern that people should be leaving this country in increasing numbers?
§ Mr. BURNSYes; and a matter of equally grave concern are the reasons for their going outside this country. Those reasons are wider opportunities and better access to the land on favourable terms.