§ 24. Mr. AMMONasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether his attention has been called to the statement made by Mr. W. J. Black, director of colonisation and agriculture for the Canadian National Railways, that the failure of the British Treasury to pay half the cost of administration of the Overseas Settlement Act has stood in the way of increased British immigration; and whether he will explain why this failure has occurred?
§ Mr. AMERYI have seen the statement to which the hon. Member refers and would invite his attention to the answer which I gave to a question by the hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Hurd) on this subject on the 20th December last.
§ Mr. AMERYNo, Sir. I do not think it would be accurate to say that migration has been really seriously affected by the view taken by His Majesty's Government that each Government should pay its own administrative expenses.
§ Mr. AMMONDo I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that we pay half the costs of administration?
§ Mr. AMERYExcept in connection with some voluntary societies. We do not pay half the administration expenses of the Government on the other side. Each side pays its own administrative expenses under a scheme.
§ Mr. HURDArising out of the answer given on this subject in December last, can the right hon. Gentleman now say what steps are being taken?
§ Mr. AMERYI am not aware at this moment that any scheme is being seriously held up on this point. Undoubtedly, it is a matter which we shall go into with the Dominion Government.