§ 27. Mr. L. THOMPSONasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs how many undertakings have actually been commenced in Australia as a direct outcome of the 1925 Agreement under the Empire Settlement Act, 1922?
§ Mr. AMERYFifteen schemes have been approved as "agreed undertakings" under the Loan and Migration Agreement with the Commonwealth Government, as follow:
I understand that work has already commenced on most of these schemes.
- Victoria.—Three land settlement schemes.
- Western Australia.—Ten schemes, comprising water supply, drainage, railway and farm schemes.
- South Australia.—Two schemes of water conservation.
§ Mr. THOMPSONCan my right hon. Friend say what is the amount of the expenditure on these schemes?
§ Mr. AMERYI am afraid I should have to have notice of that question, but I think it is over £3,000,000.
§ 28. Mr. THOMPSONalso asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs the number of requisitions issued per month for selected migrants to Australia, and covering a period over the last three months?
§ Mr. AMERYThe number of requisitions for selected migrants to Australia for the last three months is as follows:
- Farm workers: January, 300:
- February, 250; March, 250.
- Boys: 135 per month.
- Domestic servants: 270 per month.
29. Mr. THOMPSON furtherasked if the group settlement scheme in West Australia has any further vacancies for 18 suitable families; and, if not, whether an extension of the scheme is contemplated?
§ Mr. AMERYRecruiting under the group settlement scheme in Western Australia has not yet been fully resumed. Families are, however, accepted from time to time on requisitions by the State Government, who are, I understand, contemplating an extension of the scheme.
§ Sir NEWTON MOOREIn view of the fact that it costs something like £2,000 to establish each settler on a Group Settlement, does it not follow that the numbers must necessarily be small, seeing that there is a limit to what a small State can afford to expend in this direction.
§ Mr. AMERYI am not quite sure that that figure represents the cost to-day, but there is no doubt that settlement is an expensive matter.
§ Mr. A. V. ALEXANDERIs not the right hon. Gentleman giving active consideration to the question of increasing the grant for Group Settlement in the case of Western Australia?
§ Mr. AMERYThe provisions under the 1925 agreement with the Commonwealth are more generous than the original provisions of the arrangement we made with Western Australia, and therefore we hope it may be possible for Western Australia to resume the group settlement scheme on the new basis.
§ 30. Sir F. NELSONasked the Secre-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs how many assisted selected migrants to Australia have left this country for each of the three months of this year?
§ Mr. AMERYThe number of assisted selected migrants who sailed for Australia during the past three months is as follows:
January … … 467 February … … 683 March … … 704 1,854
§ 31. Sir F. NELSONasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if he will consider the desirability of arranging for a small number of migrants to the Dominions who have made good to pay 19 a short visit to this country and lecture on their experiences?
§ Mr. AMERYI find that an arrangement of this kind was tried by the Canadian Government before the War, but was not found sufficiently effective to warrant the administrative difficulties and cost involved. The object which my hon. Friend has in view would appear to be met by the existing publicity arrangements, which include lectures and addresses by oversea visitors, some of whom are successful migrants with practical knowledge of settlement conditions.