§ 13. Mr. DAYasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is now in a position to make any further statement with regard to the future arrangements for emigration to Canada?
§ Mr. AMERYI am not yet in a position to make a further statement, but, if the hon. Member will repeat his question on Wednesday, I hope then to be able to do so.
§ Mr. J. H. THOMASWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of appointing a Committee to investigate every aspect of this question, and of asking the Canadian Government, having regard to recent events, to give impartial consideration to the matter at once?
§ Mr. AMERYI should have to consider that suggestion, and shall be very glad to discuss it with the right hon. Gentleman.
§ 13. Mr. DAYasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether any negotiations are proceeding between His Majesty's Government and the British steamship lines for a proportionate reduction in the fares of children travelling with their parents or in parties, who are proceeding from this country for the purpose of residing permanently in the Dominion of Canada?
§ Mr. AMERYIn connection with the £10 ocean rate to Canada for British migrants, children under 10 years of age will be charged half-fare (£5), and those under one year £1. Children under 19 years, of age proceeding under the Government Assisted Passage Scheme, whether with their parents or under the auspices of recognised societies, receive free fares to their final destination in Canada.
§ Mr. DAYCan the right hon. Gentleman make representations or arrange that children under 12 shall receive this benefit, instead of merely children under. 10?
§ Mr. AMERYThese things have been worked out very carefully with the shipping companies, and it is rather difficult to alter the age after agreement has been reached.
§ 21. Mr. W. HIRSTasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs on what terms the £10 assisted passage rate to Canada has been arranged; with whom have these conditions been effected; and what are the Exchequer grants towards the cost of this proposal?
§ Mr. AMERYThe difference between the new £10 rate for British migrants to Canada and the ordinary third-class rate, i.e., £18 15s., will he shared between His Majesty's Government in Great Britain and the British steamship lines. The contribution of His Majesty's Government will vary according to the numbers of passengers carried, but in no case will it exceed half of the cost of that difference.
§ 22. Mr. HIRSTasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether the £2 assisted passage rate to Canada has been or is proposed to be discontinued?
§ Mr. AMERYThe £2 assisted passage rate to Canada will continue to be available for approved families proceeding to agricultural work and for women household workers, and free passages will be granted to children and juveniles up to 19 years of age. The £2 rate will not be available for single men over 19 years of age after the end of this year, but they will, of course, be able to travel at the new £10 ocean rate for British migrants.
23. Major-General Sir NEWTON MOOREasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is aware that the latest Canadian Returns show that for every British immigrant entering Canada there are more than two from non-British countries; and whether the measures in prospect will serve to remove that disparity?
§ 24. Mr. HURDasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is aware that, according to official Canadian Returns, 47,390 migrants from Great Britain entered Canada in the migration season of 1928, and 62,990 from foreign countries other than the United States, including large numbers of Ruthenians, Germans, Poles, Magyars, Slovaks, and Jugo-Slays; and whether he will ask the Oversea Settlement Committee to consider how best to respond to the British-preferred policy of the Canadian Government?
§ Mr. AMERYI understand that the facts are as stated. The question of the measures to be taken to increase migration from this country to Canada is one which is under constant study by the Oversea Settlement Committee. As an instance of action recently taken. I may refer to the announcement which I made in this House on the 7th instant as to the arrangement reached with the shipping companies for a reduction in the passage rate for British migrants to Canada.
§ Mr. HURDHas the right hon. Gentleman seen a telegram from Ottawa, dated Saturday, as to the division of administrative expenses between Canada and the British Government, and the statement of the Director of Colonisation of the Canadian National Railways that the costs paid by Dominion organisations are approximately 20 times the cost borne by our Treasury?
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIs it not a fact that many large employers in Canada prefer to employ non-British immigrants because they are prepared to accept lower wages than Englishmen?
§ 25. Sir N. MOOREasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether the Government have approved of the allocation of the necessary expenditure in connection with the proved scheme of development under the Empire development scheme on the Lachlan River Valley, New South Wales; state the sum involved, the area of land to be dealt with, the number of wheat farmers that can be settled in this area, the average area per. settler, the cost per acre to the individual selector, and the method of repayment?
§ Mr. AMERYA scheme for the construction of a dam at Wyangala, to pro vide for the irrigation of a large area of. Crown and other land on the Lachlan River, New South Wales, was approved under the Commonwealth Loan Agreement in October last. The total cost of the scheme is estimated at £1,500,000 spread over five years, and the cost to His Majesty's Government. will be a fifth of this amount. The area to be served by the scheme is 1.400,000 acres, of which approximately one-half is Crown land. It is estimated that about 630 new farms will be created mainly for wheat. The average size of the farms, the cost per acre and the terms of repayment will be determined by the Government of New South Wales.