Knowing how widely the Spectator is read by those in
our Oversea Dominions as well as by those at home con- cerned in Empire development, I have drawn attention on some previous occasions to the energy and foreSight displayed by the present Governor and Court of the Hudson's Bay Company in everything pertaining to the development of Canada and especially to the matter of furthering the emigration movement into Canada. In this matter, the Directors of the Hudson's Bay Company have necessarily proceeded somewhat cau- tiously as many interests have to be considered, while the thing most of all to be avoided is the settlement of undesirable emigrants in Canada. For a long time now, however, the Hudson's Bay Company, the Gonadial Pacific Railway and the Cunard Steam Ship Company have been working hand in hand in devising the best scheme for furthering the move- ment for establishing British settlers in Canada, and during last week the following important announcement was made :—
An agreement has been made between the Oversea Settlement Department, the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, and the Hudson's Bay Company for the settlement of families in Western Canada. The Canadian Pacific Railway Company and the Hudson's Bay Company will provide land for 200 farms of 160 acres each and equip them for occupation. The companies will accept payment in instalments over a period of years. This is a trial scheme in- tended to pave the way for something more extensive, in the hope that at some future date arrangements can be made for co-operation in Canada in connection with the necessary finance.
The farms will not be ready until the spring of 1929, but steps will shortly be taken for the selection of families desiring to make their future in Western Canada, when particulars will be issued by the Oversee Settlement Department, Caxton House, Tothill Street, S.W. 1, the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, 62 Charing Cross, S.W. 1, and the Hudson's Bay Company Oversea Settlement, Limited, 1 Charing Cross, W.C. 2.
The scheme is one which will be watched with the keenest and most friendly interest by all concerned in the development of our Oversee' Dominions, while it is impossible also not to view the matter from the standpoint of our serious figures of unemployment in this country.
Previous page