A.—6a

70

(D.) Reception. The Committee have been impressed by the importance of adequate arrangements for the reception and absorption of new settlers. They feel that the arrangements described below should go far to meet the needs of the situation. Canada. The Dominion Government have decided to re-establish in the rural districts of Canada the Immigration Employment Service which ceased to function at the outbreak of war. The Agents of this service; in Canada will ascertain the number of farm-holpers required in their several eiistricts, anel will forward roepiisitions for the desired numbers to the Canadian Superintendent of Emigration in the United Kingdom. The numbers required will bo selected in this country by the usual process, and on their arrival in Canada the new settlers will be received by the Agents of the Employment Service and distributed to the farms where their services are needed. Should any settler fall out of employment, the Agent of his district will be prepared to assist him to find another suitable place. Australia. Under existing arrangements the new settlers are met at the port of arrival by the Government Immigration Officors, who arrange for their accommodation, if necessary, at hostels, from which they are distributed, to their destinations in the country districts. Nominated passengers are, of course, received on arrival by their relatives or friends. The Committee welcomed a statement by the; Australian representative that he would gladly take up with tho Governments of the Australian States the desirability of supplementing the existing arrangements by establishing farm reception depots in the various States, where settlers might be rcceive;d, and afforded, where necessary, brief preliminary training before being placed out upon farms. These depots shoulel be; available for tho accommodation of now settlers, who may not have found permanently satisfactory employment, at any time within, say, one. year from the date of their first arrival. New Zealand. Tho bulk of the new settlers for New Zealand are nominated by relatives or friends, who generally meet them at the port of arrival and immediately take charge of them. All other settlers are met by the Government Immigration Officers, and, where necessary, are accommodated in hostels until they can proceed to permanent employment. This system is regarded as adequate for the present. (E.) Families. The Committee agree that family migration is the ideal form of migration. There are, however, certain difficulties to be overcome if the settlement of families upon the land overseas is to be carried out successfully, viz. : — (J.) The difficulty which the head of a family finds in providing maintenance for his dependants while he is gaining experience in land work ; (2.) The lack of accommodation for families in the country districts overseas. J t has already been pointed out that the restrictions upon family migration which result from the high cost of passages have been largely modified by the liberal assistance afforded under tho revised Assisted-passage Agreements mentioned in paragraph (C), Passages, above. With regard to (1), the Committee have taken into consideration the feasibility of experimental schemes under the Empire Settlement Act for granting allowances where necessary to the heads of families (say, 10s. a week for a wife and ss. for a child) for a period not exceeding twelve; months from the date of their arrival overseas. Canada. The Dominion representative, whilst making it clear that the provision of maintenance allowances for selected families presented various difficulties and might not be acceptable; to his Government, has undertaken that the possibilities of introducing experimentally an arrangement of this kind for a limited number of families should receive careful consideration. Australia. The existing land-settlement schemes for New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia make certain provision for the maintenance of families during the initial period of settlement by means of the payment of wages or the like. These schemes, however, only deal with a limited number of settlers who have been selected with a view to their establishment as independent farmers on their own account. The Australian representative considered that in the present position of the movement no further action was necessary by his Government, particularly as the difficulties in question would be to some, extent met if the States established the projected farm reception depots. (F.) Children and Juveniles. The Committee attach the greatest importance to the migration of children and juveniles, which they regard as one of the most hopeful of all forms of migration. Canada. The Dominion Government adhere to the policy, which has been successfully pursued for the last forty years, of encouraging the settlement in Canada of children who proceed to the Dominion under the auspices of societies such as Dr. Barnardo's Homes. This system deals, generally speaking,