The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-04-17 00:00:00

A NATIONAL SYSTEM OF EMIGRA-
TION ADVOCATED.

A large meeting of the unemployed artisans
of Poplar has b.-en held under the auspices of the
National Emigration Aid Society; Mr. Jenkinson
in
the chair. The chairman explained at length the bene-
fit which would be derived from a national system of
emigration— not only to those who went to the colonies,
but to those who remained at home, and expressed his
Profound conviction that the chronic pauperism which
now costs £7,000,000 annually would only tie remedied
by a great expatriation of the labouring classes of the
country. The evil wan fer too ,eat to he dealt with
ty the chant Ode, bat moat be taken tip by the Govern.
ment ; and the only way to bring that about was for
the people to show that they desired it. A sum of at
least £2,000,000 wan required, and this would be re-
paid to the country by the increased impetus which
would be given to the energies of the people. A
motion was passed affirming that the supply of the
labour-market in this country is greatly beyond the
demand, and results in a crippled industry and chronic
pauperism; that the exportation of labour is the only
effective remedy, and that as this is beyond the power
of private charity, the Government should be asked to

take up the matter.

On the subject of Emigration, Mr. Edwin Galt, Mayor of

Purtsttiouth, writes :
A large number of dockyard and other Government
discharged workmen and their families are about to
emigrate to Canada, and leave England on the 20th
instant in her Majesty's troop ship Crocodile.
May I appeal to the charitably disp,.sed for subs
scriptione to enable the committee to supply them with
warm clothing? The Government have agreed to give
them a free passage to Quebec, but private funds must
be obtained for their rations, dollar tax, and a little
pocket money on landing, at the rate of £2 ss. per
statute adult.
Contributions will be thankfully received by me, or
by the Vicar of Portsmouth, on behalf of the com-
mittee.

A public meeting, under the auspices of the
National Emigration Aid Society, wan held in London
on Monday night, at Exeter Hall. The object of the
gathering was to urge upon Parliament the adoption of
a national policy of emigration to the colonies, thereby
assisting the unemployed poor.
The Chairman Mr. Thomas Chambers, QC,, M.P. said that
it was a sad and serious thing that the amount of pauperism
in the country should have rendered such a meeting neces-
eery. There were 30,000 able-bodied men on an overage out
or employment in the metropolis alone, and these represented
46,00 d other individuals dependent on them for support The
object of the society was to transport those men who c mid
not fir-it employment at home to other countries where their
skill would be in demand.
Mr. Torrens, M.P for Cambridge, moved the first resolu-
tion as follows " That this meeting, while it considers that
other important remedies or the unhappy condition of large
cases of the people in this country tohould be earnestly grin
scouted, is of opinion that emigration is one of the best and
most promising methods of relief for the increasing misery
moor towns awl agrieuPural districts." He said he would be
almost prepared to say that emigratiun was the only remedy
for relieving the misery alluded to. Ile might be enthusia,tic
in the flatter, but he had lived for a won ter of a century in
a country (Australia) where pauperism was miknown. and
where a willing man could readily obtain employment andzin
his way to the position of a landed proprietor. A very Mge
eumber if the working population of this country might be
removed without injury to its productive power, fir those
who still remained in the country would obtain better wages
and would he able to do more work than they can now do 011
their Meagre diet. He read from Dr. Stallard's pamphlet
the statement that within the last ten years the number of
persons receiving relief had increased from 77.66 to 163 179,
and these neuron toek no note of the manly, struggling
working man who succeeded in avoiding the receipt if parish
relief. The condition of the agricultutal labourer in this
country was stub that he would prefer that of a Red
Indian or a black fellow on the river Murray. The amount
needed to send out a sufficient num of nieu to relieve the
labour market was too great for private exertion, and the
Government should Interfere ill the matter. Vi' hen the Poor
Law was alead to be introduced into Ireland, lie had thought
that emigration WWI the most valuable remedy for pauperism,
and he hail been instrumental In sending out three coignes
of enigmas, nearly all of whom had done well. Most of
these men were now landed proprietors, many were worth
Iron; £lO,OOO to £20,000 each. 'three had hail seats in the
Legislature, and one of them, a journeyman carpenter, had
been one of the Ministry.
Mr. A M'Arthur, formerly a member of the Legislative
CollllCti of Melanie, said that in this country there was a
superabundant population, and an overstocked labour
market, while in the colonies the great want was labour. In
the colonlea any s,-her, steads, persevering man might in a
very short time realise enough to reteler him an employer of
labour. Ile proposed that one third of the Ille-1118 needed
should be supplied by the colonies. that asether third about,'
be found by the Britiak Government, and the remaMing
third should be made up by the emigrants, or by a fund
raised by private individuals. Every nian sent out to the
colonies at once became a good customer for our manu-
factures.
hord Alfred Churchill moved the second reeolutloni
" That the moonlit of relief neceesary to proiince any
permanent improvement in the COllliilioll of the people,
and the difficulties involved in carrying out an extensive sys-
tem of emigration, imperatively demand measures that are
beyond the power of private benevolence or local action, and
require the assistance and management of Government." He
dill not wish to discourage private exertion, but did nit think '
any amount of private ex. lion would be of much effect.
The British colonies were our best customers. The poptila.
tiou of Canada consumed British imports to the amount of
shout £3 ahead; Australia took about £8 ahead; and New
Zealand nearly £lO a head, while the United states took
&Nita 175. per head from us. It was nece.sary that emigrants
should not he left in the port of debarkation, but should be
sent up to where they were wanted.
Mr. F. Young moved the third resolution, as follows :
" That the National Emigration Aid Society, which ha. been
ormed for the purpose of carrying out the objects embodied
in the foregoing resolutions, deserves the sympathy and sup-
port of the public."
The Rev. A. S. Herring moved the f-urth rearint'on
"That 4. deputatnn, conststit g of r oblereen and gentlemen,
with the c, uucil of the National Emigration All S eietY,
and deputatio, a of six working men. selected by each of the
' emieration Sd.eie lea of the various distints of liindon and
the provinces, he invited to wait on the If. me and Colonial
Secretaries, and nrge Hum to give Immediate attention to
the su,l-ct, wihanew to legislative action"
This was seentited by Mr. T. B- lags, and peoed, arid after
a site of thanks to the charmaa the proceeaings ter-
!lnflated.