HC Deb 26 March 1930 vol 237 cc410-1
32. Mr. OLIVER BALDWIN

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if he has made inquiries as to the reason why certain prospective immigrants to Alberta, who had been approved as such, had given up their occupations, and had paid their £15 deposit by the 13th February last to the Alberta Government, were prevented from leaving England on the 20th February by the sudden cancellation of their contracts at the orders of the Alberta Government; and whether he will try to arrange with the Alberta Government that such a position does not occur again?

Mr. LUNN

Arrangements were made with the Government of Alberta in this year as in former years for a limited number of young men to proceed to Alberta for employment on the land after a preliminary period of training in agricultural schools maintained by the Alberta Government. In view, however, of the restricted demand in the present season for farm labour the Alberta Government have represented that it would be desirable to suspend these arrangements for the present. Efforts are being made to place the young men concerned in farm training schemes in other Provinces of Canada. It is hoped that a similar difficulty will not occur in future, but my hon. Friend will no doubt appreciate that the representations of the Alberta Government were dictated primarily in the interests of the young men themselves.

Mr. R. A. TAYLOR

Are they all single men?

Mr. LUNN

As far as I know.

Sir ERNEST SHEPPERSON

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is at the present time considerable unemployment in the Province of Alberta because the surplus of wheat grown in that Dominion has been detrimental to the agricultural community?

Mr. LUNN

The action of the Government has been influenced by the unemployment at this moment.