§ 70. Mr. ROBERT MORRISONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether his attention has been drawn to advertisements now appearing in the Press, inserted by the Empire Settlement Bureau, offering assisted passages to one of the Dominions to skilled carpenters, bricklayers, plasterers, masons, and plumbers; and, in view of the great importance for house-building purposes of retaining as many of these skilled workmen as possible, whether he will see that these men are not encouraged to emigrate?
§ Mr. LUNNThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, it is understood that the advertisement has been authorised by the Government of Australia, that the number of skilled workers required is strictly limited, and that the opportunities offered are likely to be advantageous to the individual. In these circumstances, it has not been considered desirable to interfere.
§ Mr. MORRISONDoes not the hon. Member think that it is an extraordinary state of affairs that while his colleague the Minister of Health is anticipating that it will be possible to got some of these men from overseas back into their own country, for work which is vitally necessary in the housing scheme, another Department should be offering bribes to these men to leave the country.
§ Mr. LUNNI have consulted the Minister of Health and the Minister of Labour regarding the answer I have given to this particular question. The Ministry of Labour have been considering this matter for a good long time, and as the numbers are so few and those who go out go under a nominated system, it has not been considered necessary to interfere.
§ Mr. MORRISONIs the hon. Member of opinion that we have so many carpenters, bricklayers, plumbers and plasterers in this country that we can spare these men?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is a matter of argument.