§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the Prime Minister if he will explain to the House the views of the Government in the matter of State-aided emigration from the Motherland to the self-governing Dominions oversea; whether the Government are prepared to set aside a sum of money annually to be used towards assisting suitable and desirable persons to emigrate; and, if not, will he consider the advisability of extending the machinery of the Labour Exchanges so that if an applicant has work awaiting him in some one of the oversea Dominions he may be able to obtain from the State the same financial help towards the payment of his passage money as he can now obtain towards his travelling expenses if work awaits him in any part of the United Kingdom?
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked what, if any, steps have been taken by the Government to carry into effect the resolution dealing with emigration and immigration within the Empire passed unanimously by the members of the Conference?
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the expectations held out on behalf of the Government at the last Imperial Conference that the Emigrants' Information Office should be reconstructed, any and what steps have been taken towards such reconstruction; and, if none, will he explain the cause of the delay, and undertake that the matter shall receive early consideration?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Harcourt)I will reply at the same time to the question which the 545 hon. Member has put to the Prime Minister and the two questions which he has put to myself. I am not aware what precisely is meant by the statement that expectations were held out at the last Conference that the Emigrants' Information Office would be reconstructed. The views of the Government on the question of emigration were stated at that Conference by my right hon. Friend the President of the Local Government Board on pp. 170–172 and pp. 177–178 of Cd. 3523. In particular it was stated (page 177) that it had not been the policy to grant votes of Imperial money for emigration and (page 172) that if the Self-Governing Dominions considered any of the work done by the home agencies could be improved, any suggestions from them would be cordially welcomed. I may further refer the hon. Gentleman to the note printed on page 25 of Cd. 5273. He is aware that the question of the representation of the Dominions on the Managing Committee of the Emigrants' Information Office will be discussed at the forthcoming Conference on a resolution of the Commonwealth of Australia. The question of the possibility and best method of utilising the machinery of the Labour Exchanges in connection with applications and vacancies noted in the Oversea Dominions has for some time been engaging the attention of the Board of Trade and the subject has been put down for discussion at the Conference.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that expectations were held out by the President of the Local Government Board?
§ Mr. HARCOURTNo; I am afraid I do not carry in my mind what expectations have been entertained in consequence of any views which have been expressed by my colleagues.