§ Mr. SMEDLEY CROOKE(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is now able 935 to make any further statement regarding the position of the settlers whose cases were considered by the Royal Commission on Migrant Land Settlement in Victoria?
The SECRETARY of STATE for DOMINION AFFAIRS (Mr. J. H. Thomas)Yes, Sir. His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom have given further careful consideration to the circumstances of those settlers from the United Kingdom whose cases were considered and whose complaints were sustained by the Royal Commission on Migrant Land Settlement in Victoria. As was announced on 22nd March last, His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom felt it desirable to assist as far as possible in ensuring that the cash payments made by the Government of Victoria to those settlers who decided to accept cash compensation should not be unduly diminished, but should be available to enable them to make a fresh start in life. For this purpose they then decided to make a contribution of £10,000, should that amount prove to be required, to the fund established by the Victoria Government to assist in the payment of pressing personal debts incurred by the settlers. Of the 292 settlers concerned, the majority will, it is hoped, remain in Australia and utilise there the compensation received by them from the Government of Victoria in securing a fresh start in life. About 90, however, have returned to this country. For the same reason as that stated above—namely, in order that the capital available to enable the settlers concerned to make a fresh start in life should not be unduly diminished—His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom have now decided to take into consideration the cases of those who have returned to this country. In any such case in which they are satisfied that further assistance is necessary to enable the settler to make a fresh start, they will be prepared to make an ex gratia payment not exceeding half the minimum cost of the passages home of the settler and his dependants, and also the actual loss on exchange of so much of the compensation received from the Government of Victoria as is transferred to this country. It is estimated that the total cost of this concession will amount to approximately £17,000. Any of the settlers concerned who desire to have their cases considered on the above lines should com 936 municate with the Oversea Settlement Department in order that a form of application may be sent to him. I may add that the total cost of all the assistance to the settlers provided out of funds made available by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom will 'amount to approximately £30,000.
§ Mr. LUNNMay I ask whether this arrangement has been made with the settlers who have already returned from Victoria, and if it is considered satisfactory?
Mr. THOMASI think the hon. Member was to have been a member of the deputation to whom I explained the whole circumstances. I think I am not going beyond the actual state of affairs when I say that having regard to all the circum- stances they unanimously agreed that His Majesty's Government had gone out of their way to make it easy for all those who had suffered.
§ Mr. MAXTONWill this require a supplementary Estimate?