§ 17. Sir J. NORTON-GRIFFITHSasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can give any information as to the present number of schemes agreed upon with the Dominion Governments or private organisations under the Empire Settlement Act?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Ormsby-Gore)I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement which I made on this subject in the written answer printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT of 30th November.
§ Sir A. SHIRLEY BENNAre the Colonial Office making every effort to get schemes submitted to them, and accelerating investigation?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI may inform my hon. Friend that I took the chair for the first time this morning at a meeting of the Overseas Settlement Committee, and I will certainly do all in my power to accelerate these schemes.
§ 33. Major CADOGANasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the existing conditions of unemployment in this country, the Government has under consideration any schemes for facilitating emigration to the Colonies; and whether the subject of emigration will be discussed at the forthcoming Imperial Economic Conference?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe policy embodied in the Empire Settlement Act of this year should be regarded as a constructive plan for developing the resources of the Empire and for developing trade within the Empire, rather than as a means of dealing with the present abnormal unemployment in this country. Under this Act the Government are empowered to co-operate with the Governments of other parts of the Empire in schemes for granting State aid to suitable land settlers. Schemes for assisting passages under the Act have already been agreed upon with the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia and the Government of New Zealand. Schemes are also under negotiation for land settlement in several Australian States and in Ontario. It would be premature for me to make any statement at present upon the second part of my hon. and gallant Friend's question.
§ Major CADOGANDoes not the hon. Gentleman consider, in view of the shortage of man-power in the Colonies, that facilitating emigration should be the central feature in developing the resources of the Empire?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI entirely agree with my hon. and gallant Friend both in 1480 regard to the emigration of women and juveniles. The matter will be pressed, in every way possible, before the attention of the Imperial Economic Conference.
§ Mr. A. V. ALEXANDERHas the attention of the hon. Gentleman been directed to the speech of Earl Haig last Friday, and before any further emigration is recommended, will the matter there spoken of be looked into?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREMy attention has been called to the speech this morning, and a letter on the subject has been addressed to the High Commissioner for Australia. But I would point out that the remarks referred to emigration prior to the operations of the Empire Land Settlement Committee.
§ 41. Sir J. NORTON-GRIFFITHSasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Overseas Settlement Committee has been re-appointed; whether the recent election has necessitated any changes in its personnel; and, if so, what changes have been or will be made?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe Overseas Settlement Committee is still performing the duties with which it was entrusted by the late Government. The only changes in personnel resulting from the recent election are those referred to in my reply of the 30th November.
§ Sir J. NORTON-GRIFFITHSWill the hon. Gentleman continue to have the assistance and co-operation of his predecessor who is now the First Lord of the Admiralty?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI hope so: on every possible occasion.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs Labour likely to have further representation on this Committee?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe hon. Member for the Forest of Dean (Mr. Wignall) is the only Labour Member of the House on the Committee; if the party desires a further representative I shall be happy to consider it.
§ 42. Sir J. NORTON-GRIFFITHSasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, under the Overseas Settlement Act, immediate provision can be made to advance outfit money and 1481 arrange for the payment of the passage money for families now in this country who may be desirous of joining their husbands residing overseas within the British Empire, on similar lines to the work carried on in 1911, 1912, and 1913 by the Imperial Home Reunion Association of Canada?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREUnder the Empire Settlement Act, 1922, the Secretary of State would be prepared to co-operate with the Overseas Governments concerned in agreed schemes for assistance with passages, initial allowances or otherwise, whether by grant or by loan as may be deemed expedient, to the families referred to, provided that the contribution of the Secretary of State did not exceed half the expenses of the scheme. At present, assistance towards passages only can be given under the Act to suitable persons in this country who intend to settle in Australia and New Zealand, but assisted passage agreements have not as yet been entered into with the other Dominions.
§ Sir J. NORTON-GRIFFITHSWill the hon. Gentleman simplify the machinery? Many wives are waiting to join their husbands; can they have immediate facilities for doing so?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI shall certainly look into that.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKECan the families apply direct to the Overseas Department or have they to go to an organization?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThey can apply direct.
§ Mr. HARDIEHow is it possible for families to go out?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREWomen and children are going out.
§ Mr. J. JONESIs it possible that we who are members of boards of guardians in various parts of the country should have the opportunity of getting husbands repatriated from the Colonies, so that they may come and keep their families?