MORE POPULATION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 110, 19 February 1937, Page 5

MORE POPULATION.

“FIRST LINE OF DEFENCE.” AUCKLAND, February 18. The council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce this morning carried a motion that, in the opinion of the council, the time was opportune for the Government to reconsider the question of immigration. It also recommended that the Government institute an urgent inquiry into the matter.

Proposing the motion, Mr F. N. Ambler said that lie felt the Government should be informed that responsible sections of the community favoured immigration. With the approach of better times ill was necessary to realise that New Zealand,’s population was too small. England had 2,000,000 unemployed, many of whom would make desirable citizens. It would not be too much to expect England to pay some of the cost of setting some of those people in sparsely populated areas of the Dominion. (Population was the first line of defence for New Zealand and also a protection against slumps. Fear that immigration would cause greater unemployment was a fallacy, provided immigration was carried out on planned lines. Mr J. O. Allun advocated a wellorganised land settlement scheme. From his knowledge, he said, it would bo impossible to get farm workers m future unless thev Avere also land-hold-ers. He suggested that orphanages should not lie established in England but in the Dominions, Avhere orphans could be trained to take places in the younger community, where they .would have a better chance in life..