show that the natural increase of population in this country has declined sharply as compared with the first decade of this century, and suggest that there is a tendency towards a further decline. Section II, which is the chief Section of the Report, deals at some length with settlement under the Empire Settlement Act, and endeavours to explain the chief causes which prevent the more rapid transfer of population from this country to the Dominions; it suggests that a more vigourous policy is required and, after dealing with certain features of the problem in the various Dominions, it indicates ways in which assisted and also unassisted settlement might be increased. Reference is subsequently made to the extensive tour of the Dominions undertaken by the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, to the visit to this country of the Canadian Minister of Immigration, to the work of the Development and Migration Commission in Australia, and the proposed geophysical survey in the Commonwealth. The problem of preparatory testing for various classes of settlers is dealt with in Section IX, which shows the steps taken for increasing the facilities for this purpose for testing single men, women and boys. Special attention is drawn to the paramount importance of securing women settlers of the right type, and the concluding paragraphs deal with the interesting experiment in connection with Women's training at Market Harborough and the equally interesting experiment in testing boys at Newcastle-on-Tyne. The next Section deals with the Nomination System, which is one of the chief means of moving settlers to Australia and New Zealand. The settlement of families, whether as farm workers or upon farms of their own, is described as an ideal form of settlement, but it is shown that family settlement presents many special difficulties and that the settlement of families upon farms of their own is very costly. The provision of housing accommodation in the rural districts in the Dominions is suggested as one means of facilitating family settlement. Special reference is made to the 3,000 Families Scheme in Canada, which has thus far proved the most successful of any of the large schemes for promoting the settlement of families upon farms of their own. The Report concludes with sections dealing with Empire tours for boys, girls and University students, the work of voluntary organisations (which is of much value in connection with Empire settlement and should be extended), and the measures taken to promote publicity and to disseminate information and advice in regard to oversea settlement throughout this country. G. F. PLANT, April, 1928. Secretary. LOVAT, APPENDIX I. [12 & 13 Geo. 5.] Empire Settlement Act, 1922. CHAPTER 13. [CH. 13.] AN ACT TO MAKE BETTER PROVISION FOR FURTHERING BRITISH [31st May, 1922.] BE it enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: 1.—(1) It shall be lawful for the Secretary of State, in association with the government of any part of His Majesty's Dominions, or with public authorities or public or private organisations either in the United Kingdom or in any part of such Dominions, to formulate and co-operate in carrying out agreed schemes for affording joint assistance to suitable persons in the United Kingdom who intend to settle in any part of His Majesty's Oversea Dominions. (2) An agreed scheme under this Act may be either: (a) a development or a land settlement scheme; or (b) a scheme for facilitating settlement in or migration to any part of His Majesty's Oversea Dominions by assistance with passages, initial allowances, training or otherwise; and shall make provision with respect to the contributions to be made, either by way of grant or by way of loan or otherwise, by the parties to the agreed scheme towards the expenses of the scheme. (3) The Secretary of State shall have all such powers as may be necessary for carrying out his obligations under any scheme made in pursuance of this Act: Provided that (a) the Secretary of State shall not agree to any scheme without the consent of the Treasury, who shall be satisfied that the contributions of the government, authority, or organisation with whom the scheme is agreed towards the expenses of the scheme bear a proper relation to the contribution of the Secretary of State; and (b) the contribution of the Secretary of State shall not in any case exceed half the expenses of the scheme; and (c) the liability of the Secretary of State to make contributions under the scheme shall not extend beyond a period of fifteen years after the passing of this Act. (4) Any expenses of the Secretary of State under this Act shall be paid out of the moneys provided by Parliament: Provided that the aggregate amount expended by the Secretary of State under any scheme or schemes under this Act shall not exceed one million five hundred thousand pounds in the financial year current at the date of the passing of this Act, or three million pounds in any subsequent financial year, exclusive of the amount of any sums received by way of interest on or repayment of advances previously made. 2. His Majesty may by Order in Council direct that this Act shall apply to any territory which is under His Majesty's protection, or in respect of which a mandate is being exercised by the government of any part of His Majesty's Dominions as if that territory were a part of His Majesty's Dominions, and, on the making of any such Order, this Act shall, subject to the provisions of the Order, have effect accordingly. 3. This Act may be cited as the Empire Settlement Act, 1922. |