§ 9. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether his attention has been called to the fact that 36 persons have recently arrived at Plymouth on board the steamship "Ansonia," having been deported from Canada, and that they include the family of a man who went out from 772 Yorkshire in 1926 with his wife and four children, and another family who had been in Canada since 1923; whether he has any facts relating to these deportations; and whether he intends to make representations to the Canadian Government?
Mr. THOMASThe answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. I understand that, of the persons concerned, 25 had become public charges, four had been convicted, and four had medical defects. As regards the general considerations involved, I have already taken steps to get into touch with His Majesty's Government in Canada.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAWill the right hon. Gentleman raise the principles involved in this matter at the conference?
Mr. THOMASThe principles involved are very far-reaching. The first point is: Can you interfere with a Dominion that has been given absolute self-government in their own internal administration? The second point that emerges from that is as to the difficulties of folk going abroad and taking all the risks and then finding themselves in the unfortunate circumstances enumerated in the question. The hon. Gentleman must understand how difficult and delicate is the situation.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAWill the right hon. Gentleman realise that it is not a question of interfering but of negotiating, and cannot some principle of common citizenship in the Empire be established?
Mr. THOMASNothing would please me better, but, as the hon. Gentleman must be aware, having said to the Dominions, "You are your own boss." you cannot very well interfere.
§ Mr. BEAUMONTCannot a suggestion be made to the Dominion.
§ 25. Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLEasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of emigrants repatriated from Canada, Australia, and New Zealand within the last available 12 months?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. William Graham)According to returns furnished voluntarily to the Board of Trade by the principal steamship companies, the numbers of 773 British subjects who were sent back to the United Kingdom by the Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand authorities during the year 1930, were 2,634, 218, and one respectively.
§ Mr. SOMERVILLECan the right hon. Gentleman say whether that is an increase on previous years?
§ Mr. GRAHAMI should require notice of that question.
§ Mr. McSHANEIs this the first fruit of the Empire Free Trade policy?
§ Sir A. LAMBERT WARDCan the President of the Board of Trade say the number of Canadians and Australians who have been repatriated from this country?
§ Mr. GRAHAMI should also require notice of that question. The question was confined to the narrow point as to the number of migrants repatriated from Canada, Australia, and New Zealand during the last 12 months.