The Sun.
London, England, 1869-12-30 00:00:00

771 E EMIGRATION QUES7ION.

Yesterday a special meeting of the managing
committee of the British and Colonial Emigration
Fund, which has long been rendering conspicuous
public services in promoting and directing emi-
gration to the colonies, and especially to Canada,
from the east end of London and other parts of the
metropolis where distress prevai!s, was held at the
Mansion-house. It had been convened for the
purpose principally of c ,nsidering a proposition for
amalgamation with other associations of the kind
—the Workmen's Emigration Society for the Con-
solidation of the British Empire, and the National
E nigration Aid Society, from which the proposal
had emanated. The Eight Hon. the Lord Mayor,
the President of the Emigration Fund, occupied
the chair.

A statement was read by the secretary, Mr.
Haly, to the effect that since the conference at the
Olansion-house, iu February last, 3,156 emigrants
had been sent out through the agency of the British
and Colonial Emigration Fund, and 900 previously,
making in all 4,056. Of the 3,156 there had been
sent to Queensland 20 by the Flying Cloud; and
41 by the Young Australia; to Canada, by ILM.'s
ship Crocodile, 386 ; by the screw steamer Dacia,
479 ; by H.M.'s ship Serapis, 776 ; by the screw
steamship Cleopatra, 365 ; by ship
Simoom, 608 ; and by the screw steamer Medway,
331. The Dacia had performed three voyages since
February last, and the Cleopatra two. The com-
mittee had prepared and sent circulars to all the
metropolitan boards of guardians, numerous re-
lief societies, and individuals interested in the
subject of emigration, requesting their co-
operation. Having reason to know that a good
opening existed among farmers in the province of
Ontario for respectable lads of good character from
14 to 16 years of age, whose parents or friends are
willing to pay their expenses to Canada, the corn-

tuittee were now in communication with gentle-
men
of position in that province on the subject,
and inquiring whether a committee can be formed
at :Toronto to make the necessary arrangements '
there for the proper reception of the lads on their
arrival in the Dominion, and who would take
obarge of them until they are fairly started in situa-
tions. They had likewise communicated with
the Governments of Canada, Victoria, New
South Wales, South Australia, Western Aus-
tralia, Queensland, New Zealand, Cape of Good
Hope, and British Columbia, with the view
of ascertaining whether any and what help
may be expected from them in promot-
ing the emigration of such deserving unem-
ployed as they may consider eligible emi-
grants for the respective colonies, and especially
whether they would be inclined to aid in opening
a central office in London, at which information
and assistance could be afforded to intending emi-
grants. Local emigration committees in connec-
tion with the society are already in course of forma-
tion at Deptford, Chelsea, Westminster, Poplar,
and other districts of the metropolis, and they hope
many others will be formed during the winter.
The meeting yesterday had for some time under '
consideration the invitation from the Workmen's-
Emigration Society, and the National Emigration
Aid Society to amalgamate with them, and so form
one general association, but it was unanimously,
to all appearance, averse from such union, though
favourable to occasional conferences with them
with the view of aiding in the general working of
emigration. Mr. Henry Kingscote said he was in
favour of amalgamation, if it was possible to be car-
ried out in one management, but not otherwise.
It was not, however, a new proposal to them, and
he
,did not know why they could not be allowed to
carry on the work of emigration as they had already
been doing with great success, and with all due
regard for the well-being of the people who had
gone out to the colonies under their auspices. They
had had eceasionally_some little difficulty in get-
ting
the public to subscribe, but it was only from
persons who had fancied, but erroneously, that
the society had something to do with trad ,s
unions. He was certain that if they took
Mr. George Potter and Mr. Edmond Beales
upon the committee the public contributions to the
scciety would decline. The Tory Government had
given the society money, and the Liberal one had
placed ships at its disposal for taking out emi-
grants. He therefore thought it would be unwise
if they-took in any element that was likely to inter-
fere with itheir existing arrangements, which hid

hitherto worked so satisfactorily. Mr. Kitto re-
minded the meeting that the soc:ety was the first
to take up the matter, that it had gained much
experience in it, that it began with smAll, and had
done great things, and therefore he did not think '
they ought to be asked to change their plans,
though they would he naturally disposed tl pro-
mote the general cause of emigration.
Sir JAMES LAWRENCE said he had seen a deputa-
tion of working men on the previous day, who had
represented to him that the Workmen's Emigration
Society was mixed up with trades unions, of which
he was not previous aware. He was quite of opinion '
that an amalgamation of the emigration societies
would not, as a principle, be Conducive to the emi-
gration movement generally.
Sir GEORGE GREY expressed himself to the same
effect, believing that amalgamation would tend to
destroy a great number of the existing agencies.
Eventually, on the motion of Mr. K:NGscoTE,
seconded by Sir GEORGE GREY, the meeting parsed
an unanimous resolution to the effect that the amal-
gamation with die other societies would not tend to
assist the cause of emi':iration, and might create
d;fficulty in the arrangements with the Colonial
Governments with whom the British and Colonial
Society was in correspondence, but that the meeting
would be ready and willing from time to time to ap-
point members of their own body to confer with the
committees of other societies on any general ques-
tion connected with emigration. Alderman Sir Jas.
Lawrence, S:r George Grey, and Mr. Henry Kings-
! cote were appointed a deputation to convey the re-
solution to the committees of the other societies, and
with that the meeting terminated.