MIGRATION AND FAMILIES

Sir, —May I express appreciation of the thoughtful letter by "Mathetes" in your issue of September 29? It is true that immigration can never be a complete and final solution of New Zeaand's population problem. It does, however, appear to be a necessary expedient at. the moment. "Mathetes" says: ". . . to obtain any worth-while increase in the population the absolute minimum for the average family is four." Can we, with an average family now of just over two, justifiably pin all our hopes on achieving an average family of four before the disastrous consequences of a declining population have overtaken the country? In a publication dealing exhaustively with the subject, it is stated: ". . . even if, and this js highly improbable, there were an immediate and effective increase in the. birth-rate, it does not follow that there would be an immediate increase in the size of the population; because of the inevitable time lag we would still be faced with a period immediately before us when the constitution of the population would certainly move in a less favourable direction. . . , There are periods in the life of the nation when immigration becomes a factor of first importance. 'We believe the Dominion is in one of those periods today." If the association of which I am chairman has appeared to place disproportionate stress on immigration, it is merely because it is convinced that, taking a realistic view, sufficient natural increase cannot be expected quickly enough to avert disaster, and, above all, that urgent action is necessary now if New! Zealand" is to obtain any immigrants at all after the war. There is ample evidence that the supply will not be equal to the demand. We /share with "Mathetes" the belief that it is in a healthy increase in the birth-rate that New Zealand's only hope of security ultimately lies. To that end we advocate: family allowances sufficient to remove the financial burden of parenthood from the individual and place it, where it belongs, on the community as a whole; a housing scheme designed to enable every young couple to secure a home of their own and add to it as their family grows; the building by the State of family houses only and the giving of preference to the largest families; increased maternity hospital accommodation; increased endeavours to provide domestic help for mothers; child nurseries in every town; removal of taxation on] babies' requisites; education in the physical and social dangers of abortion. These, things can never be fully achieved without an awakened public appreciation of the dangers now facing the country and the respect due to motherhood. May we appeal to all those who share the views of "Mathetes" to assist us to that end.— I am, etc., A. LEIGH HUNT, Chairman, Dominion Settlement and Population Association.