HC Deb 14 January 1913 vol 46 cc1889-90
73. Sir CLEMENT KINLOCH-COOKE

asked if the right hon. Gentleman can give the figures showing the total Australian and Canadian immigration, respectively, for 1910 and 1911, and specify what proportion of this immigration was British?

Mr. ROBERTSON

Canadian official statistics for the years ended 31st March, 1911, and 31st March, 1912, show 311,084 immigrants into the Dominion in the former year, 354,237 in the latter. Of these totals, 123,013 and 138,121, espectively, were described as British—i.e., English, Welsh, Scotch, or Irish. Australian official statistics do not show the numbers of immigrants separately from those of other passengers arriving at or departing from Australian ports. The excess of passengers arriving over passengers departing was 37,547 in 1910 and 77,703 in 1911. The excess of arrivals over departures among passengers described as British was 34,556 in 1910 and 72,327 in 1911. The passengers described as British are not, in this case, limited to natives of Great Britain or Ireland.

Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE

Is the House to understand that of the immigrants going into Canada by far the larger proportion are foreigners and not of British origin?

Mr. ROBERTSON

The hon. Member has had the figures he has asked for.