69

A. -6a.

In the case of Canada the nominator is liable for the repayment of advances of passage-money made to the nominated settler. The Committee understand that this liability is likely to act as a deterrent, and it would seem desirable, therefore, that nominators should be released from this obligation. The Canadian Government have declared their willingness to relieve nominators of this liability in the future, whenever necessary and possible, and have also agreed to advances up to 100 per cent, of the fare to approver! persons proceeding under nomination to settle on the land in Canada. In the case of Australia, whilst nominated settlers are eligible for the, usual free grant in respect of passage-mone;y, it is not the usual practice to advance any part of the balance cost of passages to nominated settlers. Where this is done, however, the nominee is solely responsible for the repayment of any advances. The Commonwealth Government have undertaken to consider the possibility of extending to nominated settlers the loan provisions of the assisted-passage schemes, which have hitherto been accorded to nominated settlers only in special circumstances. As regards collective nomination, arrangements have already been made under which the British and Canadian Governments are jointly bearing the cost of sending two representatives of the V.M.C.A. to Canada to organize the system through the various Churches, Masonic lodges, rotary clubs, and other associations. The possibility of sending representative's to Australia and New Zealand with the object of increasing collective nomination in those, Dominions is at present under consideration. It is clear that any reductions in passage rates, such as those discussed below, will stimulate the working of tho nomination system, both individual and collective. (C.) Passages. The Committee fully recognize, the importance of cheap transportation in connection with migration and settlement. It is understood, howeveir, that tho steamship companies are not in a position at the moment to make reductions in general passage, rates, nor has it been possible to arrange for a larger rebate on fares for assisted settlers. In these, circumstances the Committee; have taken into consideration the question whether any further contributions should be made by the British and Dominion Governments towards the cost of assisted passages. Canada. It has been arranged that the; scheme entitling children to a free passage grant, which has hitherto applied only to children proceeding under the auspices of .societies, such as Dr. Barnardo's Homes, shall be extended to cover children up to sixteen years inclusive proceeding as members of families with their parents, provided that the parents are proceeding under an assisted-passage scheme. The age-limits for children entitled to free passages proceeding under the auspices of societies, hitherto from eight to fourteen years inclusive in the case of girls, and from eight to sixteen years inclusive in the case of boys, have been extended in order to include, in approved cases, children below eight years of age, and girls of fifteen and sixteem. Consideration is also being given to the possibility of making the grants applicable; to boys and girls of seventeen. Under the nomination system, as mentioned in paragraph (B) above, up to 100 pe-r cemt. of the; whole cost of the journey, instead of 75 per cent., may in future; be advanced to the nominated settler, and the. settler's own security will be accepted for repayment of the advance. Women proceeding to household work will, as at present, be; eligible; for an advance of the whole of their passage-money, but they will in future be allowed a rebate of £6 from the sum repayable, in respect of this advance, provided that they have completeel one year's residence in household service on a farm in Canada, and have meantime repaid their loan instalnuuits satisfactorily. Australia. The existing Assisted-passage Agreement provides for a free grant of £11, being one-third of the passage-money, and a loan of the balance £22, where required, in all approved cases. It is felt that in spite of the generous provisions of this agreement the, amount of the; advances repayable by families who have received this assistance is so large as seriously to handicap their successful settlement. In practice this difficulty has prevented the acceptance of otherwise suitable families. In these circumstances, the Australian representative has undertaken that his Government shall consider the possibility of amending the existing agreement as follows, viz. : Children under twelve, whether proceeding as members of families or otherwise, to travel free of charge instead of at half fare, and the half-fare rate to be accorded to children' over twelve and up to and including sixteen years of age. New Zealand. The attention of the Committee has been called to the generous terms of the Assisted-passage Agreement, which was revised shortly before the meeting of the Conference. This agreement provides free passages for women proceeding to domestic service, and for children up to the age of sixteen inclusive. Juveniles of seventeen and eighteen receive passages on payment of £5 10s. per head, whilst a man and wife, if accompanied by one or more children under nineteen, are provided with passages for themselves .on payment of £11 each, each child under seventeen receiving a free passage, and between seventeen and nineteen being charged £5 10s. It is, therefore, possible for a man and wife with a family of children under seventeen years of ago to proceed to New Zealand under the agreement ore payment of only £22.