§ 34. Mr. HURDasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs how many applications under the subsidised Canadian passage scheme had been made and accepted, respectively, up to the end 1896 of February; and how many of the applications made but unaccepted in the month of January were accepted in February?
§ Mr. AMERYI am informed by the High Commissioner that the number of applications forwarded to the Director of Migration up to the end of February was 7,519. The number of acceptances stood on 28th February at 2,752. The number of applications made but unaccepted in the month of January and accepted in February was 663.
§ 24 and 25. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) the approximate value of loans granted to each emigrant who takes over a farm by the Canadian, New Zealand, and Australian Governments, and the time allowed for the repayment of such loans;
(2) the approximate sum of money required by an emigrant to Canada, New Zealand, or Australia to provide for the cost of an average holding and equipment for the same?
§ Mr. AMERYThe answer to the hon. Member's two questions is somewhat long, and with his permission, I propose to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the reply:
§ Any settler who has in his possession or has saved out of his wages a small sum of money equivalent to a certain percentage, usually between 5 and 10 per cent., on the value of a holding, is enabled by the various Dominion Governments to take up a holding on easy terms of repayment.
§ Canada.—Under an Agreement made with the Government of the Dominion of Canada for the settlement of British families on the land, approved settlers who must have at least £25 in their possession on arrival, are granted loans for the purchase of their farms at the discretion of the Dominion Government. These loans range from £800 to £ 1,000, and repayment is made over a period of 25 years at a rate of interest of 5 per cent. In addition, loans up to a maximum of £300 are granted for stock and equipment for the farms.
§ In certain of the Canadian Provinces, loans which range from $500 to $10,000, are granted by the Provincial Governments to approved settlers, subject to 1897 certain residential qualifications, and these are repayable by annual instalments over a period of years.
§ Australia—In Australia, loans are granted to settlers for the purchase of their farms. The minimum average advance obtainable under the Closer Settlement Acts of the various States for this purpose is £625, and this sum is repayable over an average period of 25 years at a rate of 5 per cent. In most cases, interest only is payable for the first five years.
§ In addition, provision is made under an Agreement between His Majesty's Government and the Government of the Commonwealth for loans to migrant settlers for the purchase of stock and equipment, such loans to be repayable by instalments over a period of years.
§ New Zealand.—No settlement Agreement with the Government of New Zealand has been arranged and no advances under the Empire Settlement Act for the purposes of settlement are available, but on arrival in New Zealand, a migrant is entitled to the same privileges with regard to loans for the purchase of land under the State Advances Act, as persons already resident in New Zealand. Such loans are made on the security of freehold or leasehold land, and are repayable by instalments over a period of 36½ years. The average advance on freehold land during the year 1924 was £529, and on leasehold land £344. The average of advances made on the security of both freehold and leasehold land combined amounted to £716.