LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
[Correspondents are requested to keep their letters as brief as is reasonably possible. The most suitable length is that of one of our " News of the Week " paragraphs. Signed letters are given a preference over those bearing a pseudr THE SPECTATOR:]
EMPIRE MIGRATION:' A. NEW APPROACH
[To the Editor of TDB SPECTATOR.] SIR.,—Imperial migration has for ten years been virtually at ' a deadlock. During that time the Empire has midergone such profound economic change that, when we fully awaken to the problem, we shall find it is no longer possible. to " dump " our idle population into the Dominions—however we may paraphrase the word " dump " M 'Our approach to the oversee governments. We haVe to face what is fundamentally a new problem : a problem which can be solved only when . our people and our Government hai:e acquired an entirely new conception of Inaperial Migration. We must stop thinking of migration as a flow of worker's frdna the oldest British country to the newer ones, since such a flow can only diSturb the economic stability of the Empire as 'a whole; and regard migration as a means for the leisured retire- ment of workers. This would enable us to preserve the I3ritish character of the Empire States, whilst rejuvenating the old country' and 'mellowing the politiCal background of the younger Dominions..
Briefly, the proposed New Migration Plan would call for the creation of modern garden cities in the eminently suitable, but at present undeveloped, areas of the Empire. These new cities, planned in every respect by State-appointed architects, would be, designed to attract the settler by their amenities and the lure of a better' and far healthier Climate. Their selection, Planning and 'control would 'be a direct Dominion•Government responsibility. The building of each new' city, as well as its settlement by people of moderate means, would be under- takenby a new type of Insurance Corporation whose activities .would be supervised by the Overseas Settlement Department. Each Settlement Insurance Corporation' would be floated in much the same way as a pUblic '•company Unlike the con- ventional type of insurance company, however, it would function (a) as a giant estate agenCy—by developing the land presented to it by the Ddritinion- Government ; (b) as a public utility' company—by installing and maintaining the essential services of water, drainage, electric power and road transport, in which, by its agreement with' the Dominion Government, it would enjoy a monopoly'; and (c) as an insurance company— by the issuing of Settlement Insurance PolicieS. • The idea of leisured retirement for those in employment is not new. Within recent years, indeed, it has been repeatedly pressed' fcirward as a solution of the unemployment problem. But it is financially impossible for the State to' retire the iniddle-aged Worker compulsorily, while, the' worker himself • Would, in 'roost` cases, be reluctant to step into 'comparative idleness on the strength of a slim pension. This New Migra- tion' Plan would' completely change the position. By pro- viding attractive garden cities in the sunnier parts of the Empire, it would enable the worker to visualise a new kind of • netiVe leisure. ' And if an economic scheme of " Settlement Insurance " was run under State supervision, the worker would be given the necessary stimulus to help himself.
Settlement Insurance would naturally vary in the nature Of its coverage from the prevision=a4i: freehold house with a life annuity down to a simple scale 'of modest pensions. For the small wage-earner, it is' possible that employer and State would be willing 'to contribute some Part :of his premiums in order to give him a 'better retirement standard than he could achieve by his own efforts _alone. It should also be noted that by a far-sighted provision made by the Ministry of Health, the present Old Age Pension is also payable; under oertaiw.eonditions, to those insured workers • who leave this cOuntry for any part of the Empire before reaching the age of sixty-live. To ensure, his pension at thittage, it is merely necessary for the worker to maintain his benefit by a modified scale of voluntary contributions. n will therefore be clear that, whilst the migration plan would at first attract the higher paid worker, it could, be framed to cover those classes to. whom ordinary retirement is at present an idle phantasy.
The economic and sociological 'effects of such a planned migration • would be wide and far-reaching., Within a few short years, we should see beautifully planned key or. pivot cities springing up in the at present, dangerously under- populated areas of the Empire. To them ,would flow an increasing stream of steady,. middle-aged British folk, each bringing some measure of financial stability and the mature outlook of the old country.. These people would constitute the. " market " upon. which ,the. city's agricultural fringe, its services and its basic trades and industries would depend for growth. As the eity's.population increased, so would its industry and commerce expand to absorb the younger people whom the settlement policy holders would bring with them. Within the Dominions, .we .should see an all-round revival the building and associated trades with a consequent stimulus to Dominions employment and purchasing power. At home, the orders for water, transport and electrical machinery would invigorate our basic industries, and this, coupled with the earlier retirement of. employed workers, would absorb the unemployed in the lower age. groups. In the sparse settlement of the Empire, the old-time pioneer has played his part and played it well. He must now give way to this combination of architect., engineer and actuary. With such trained minds in control, the great spaces of the Empire can be settled in a manner worthy of It
Previous page
