SECTION IV. Australian Development and Migration Commission APPENDIX I. Empire Settlement Act, 1922 APPENDIX II. British Migration Movement from and into Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the years 1925 and 1926. Departures under the Empire Settlement Act during 1925 APPENDIX III. Schemes arranged under the Empire Settlement OF THE OVERSEA SETTLEMENT COMMITTEE for the year ended 31st December, 1926. There were no changes in the membership of the Oversea Settlement Committee during 1926. At the close of the year the Committee was constituted as follows: President THE RT. HON. L. S. AMERY, M.P., Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs. Chairman THE EARL OF CLARENDON, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs. H. B. BETTERTON, C.B.E., M.P., Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Labour. Vice-Chairman— T. C. MACNAGHTEN, C.M.G., C.B.E. (Dominions Office). J. AMBROSE. Committee G. E. BAKER, C.B.E. (Board of Trade). MRS. HARRISON BELL. MISS MARGARET BONDFIEld, m.p. VISCOUNT BURNHAM, C.H., G.C.M.G. SIR WM. CLARK, K.C.S.I., C.M.G. (Department of Overseas Trade). L. CUTHBERTSON (Treasury). C. W. G. EADY (Ministry of Labour). SIR FRANCIS FLOUD, K.C.B. (Ministry of Agriculture). COLONEL G. D. JEBB, C.M.G., C.B.E., D.S.O. (War Office). W. LUNN, M.P. DAME MERIEL TALBOT, D.B.E. OSCAR THOMPSON. CHRISTOPHER TURNOR. Secretary G. F. PLANT. Finance Officer— ·E. T. CRUTCHLEY, C.B.E. Chief Clerk MALCOLM JONES, O.B.E. Offices of the Committee CAXTON HOUSe, Tothill Street, WESTMINSTER, S.W.1. PREFACE. On the 31st May, 1922, the Empire Settlement Act received the Royal Assent and was placed upon the Statute Book. This Act was passed as the result of a Conference with representatives of the Dominions, which met at the invitation of His Majesty's Government in Great Britain in January and February, 1921, for the purpose of considering the possibilities of Stateaided settlement within the Empire. This Conference (see Appendix V to Cmd. 1474) recommended co-operation between His Majesty's Governments in Great Britain and the Dominions, both financially and in all other respects, in a comprehensive policy of Empire land settlement and Empire directed migration. In a Resolution approving the recommendations of this Conference, the Conference of Prime Ministers, 1921 (Cmd. 1474), expressed the hope that the Government in this country would secure the powers necessary for carrying out its part in schemes of co-operation preferably in the form of an Act which would make it clear that the new policy was intended to be permanent. They also recommended that the Governments in the several Dominions should work out for discussion with the Government in this country such proposals for co-operation as might seem to them most practicable and best suited to their several interests and circumstances. In pursuance of this Resolution a Bill was introduced into the House of Commons in April, 1922, passed through its various stages with virtually no opposition, and became law, as above stated, on the 31st May, 1922. The Act, a transcript of which is contained in Appendix I to this Report, empowers His Majesty's Government to co-operate in agreed schemes for assisting the migration of suitable persons in the United Kingdom who intend to settle in any part of the oversea Dominions. Such schemes may be either development or land settlement schemes, or schemes for facilitating settlement by help with passages, initial allowances, training or otherwise. The contribution of His Majesty's Government may not in any case exceed half the expenses of a scheme, and their liability to contribute is limited to fifteen years after the passing of the Act, of which ten years have still to run. A brief summary of the schemes arranged is contained in Appendix III. SECTION I. Migration in 1926. The Tables in Appendix II show the total migration movement from Great Britain during the years 1925 and 1926. They also show the monthly sailings under the Empire Settlement Act during each of these two years. The gross outward movement from Great Britain in 1926 was 166,601; in 1925 it was 140,594. The total of the net movement from Great Britain in 1926 was 115,538, as against 84,259 in 1925. The net movement within the Empire was 93,227, as against 62,886 in 1925. The total number of persons assisted under the Empire Settlement Act increased from 39,559 in 1925 to 66,103 in 1926. The numbers assisted to Australia and New Zealand show increases of 10,205 and 3,698. The largest increase is shown in the numbers assisted to Canada; the figures, which are provisional for the later months of 1926, have risen from 8,809 in 1925 to 21,344 in 1926, an increase of 12,535. Official figures recently published by the Department of Immigration and Colonisation at Ottawa indicate that the total immigration into Canada during 1926 was 135,984, as compared with 84,907 in 1925. The number of British immigrants (i.e., immigrants from all other parts of the Empire) was 48,819. Immigrants into Canada from the United States numbered 20,944 and from other foreign countries 66,221. The corresponding figures for 1925 were, from other parts of the Empire 35,362, from the United States 17,717, and from foreign countries 31,828. During 1926, the natural increase of population, i.e., the excess of births over deaths in England and Wales was 241,100, as against 237,741 in 1925. The figure for Scotland was 38,675 in 1926, as against 38,630 in 1925. The natural increase for England, Scotland, and Wales during 1926 was, therefore, 279,775, as against 276,371 in 1925. The natural increase of population during the decades between 1871 and 1911 averaged approximately 418,000 a year. During the decade 1901 to 1911 it averaged 459,000 a year, and the outward balance of migration averaged 76,000 a year. Therefore the natural increase of population during this period, after deducting the outward balance of migration, averaged 383,000 a year. In 1925 the natural increase, after deducting the outward balance of migration, was 199,273. For 1926 the figure was 175,806. SECTION II. Imperial Conference, 1926. Oversea settlement was one of the chief subjects discussed at the Imperial Conference. At the opening of the Conference it was referred to a special Sub-Committee presided over by the Chairman of the Oversea Settlement Committee, Lord Clarendon. The Report of the Sub-Committee has been published in full (see Cmd. 2769), but it seems desirable to quote the following paragraphs, which outline their views regarding general policy: "At the Imperial Economic Conference the objects of the policy of Empire settlement were defined as a redistribution of the white population of the Empire in the best interests of the Empire as a whole.' The present Sub-Committee accept this definition, and, again reaffirm this policy. They believe it to be one of increasing value and increasing importance to the whole British Empire, and they therefore recommend that the Governments of those parts of the British Commonwealth which are suitable or adaptable to British settlement should persevere in their efforts to ensure continued cooperation in this policy and its enlargement. 66 At the same time, the Sub-Committee are satisfied that it is impossible to effect the desired redistribution of population by means of mass movements, and they desire especially to dissociate themselves from the idea that the mere transfer of large numbers of people from Great Britain to the open spaces of the Dominions would afford a solution of the problem of oversea settlement. They are convinced that a sound policy must be based upon scientific and carefully considered schemes designed to secure the settlement of suitable persons under conditions conducing both to their own well-being and to the prosperous development of the Dominion in which they are established. "None the less, the Sub-Committee recognise the importance of accelerating the distribution of population, and they are convinced that, by co-operation between the Governments of the Empire, existing conditions can be so moulded as to make it possible to facilitate and stimulate the outward flow of population from the Mother Country to the general advantage of the whole British Commonwealth. The Sub-Committee have examined the obstacles to a more rapid distribution of the white population, and find themselves in complete agreement upon this subject. They recognise that the distribution of population is most rapid at times of general prosperity, when capital is available and opportunities for employment are abundant. 66 They recognise that, whilst the bulk of the population of Great Britain, especially the younger generation, is for the most part urban, the settlement policy of the Dominions must, for various reasons, be chiefly based upon their need of agricultural development and agricultural settlement. These circumstances necessarily restrict, at least temporarily, the number of persons in Great Britain who can be regarded |