Mr. DOYLEasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many British families have been assisted to emigrate during the last six months to Canada, Australia and New Zealand, South Africa, and other British Possessions; and can he state the number of such families who have been granted land on arrival, and the average holding given to each colonist?
§ Mr. AMERYThe numbers and destinations of British families assisted to 1927W migrate during the six months ended the 31st January last under the ex-service free passage scheme are as follows:
- Canada, 679.
- Australia, 4,056.
- New Zealand, 960.
- South Africa and Rhodesia, 428.
- Other parts of the Empire, 225.
These figures do not include families which have been assisted by Dominion Governments. I am not aware what numbers have received such assistance.
As I explained in answering my hon. Friend's question on the 14th instant, only a very small proportion of those who proceed overseas have either the experience or the capital necessary to enable them to obtain grants of land immediately on arrival overseas. A certain number have been settled on the land in Canada under the Canadian Soldiers' Settlement Scheme, but selections under this scheme, though at one time made in this country by a special commission of the Canadian Government, have for some time past only been made in Canada, and no exact figures either as to numbers or acreage are available. Similarly in the case of the other Dominions referred to, while a few have proceeded direct to holdings already arranged for them others, of whom no exact records are available, have been able to establish themselves on the land subsequently to their arrival.