OUR STAGNANT POPULATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 124, 26 May 1888, Page 4

OUR STAGNANT POPULATION.

: When a sparsely settled colony ceases to attract people from abroad thero is something very seriously wrong with its condition. Now Zealand, we regret to say, in this respect occupies an unenviable position in tho Australasian group. Mr Hayter's statistics of the Australasian colonies for last year (1887) make this only too apparentlb is true that the arrivals in New Zealand, according to these returns, exceeded the departures by 917; but, as Mr Hayter points out, the official figures relatingto departures invariably understate the truth, as many persons leave all the colonies by sua without their departure being noted. It is probablo, therefore, thab tlio colony lost population last year by tho excess of emigration over immigration ; it will certainly do so this year unless the exodus is speedily stopped. However, accepting the figures in each case as correct, our progress as contrasted with any of bhe. other colonies is lamentable. Take the case of Victoria, for example Hor population to bhe square mile is already more dense than ours. It stands at 11,790 against 5,788 for New Zealand. Her land i 3 less productive, her climate less genial, she lacks coal, one of tho greatest essentials of manufacture; her other mineral resources are unquestionably neither richer nor more varied than those of New Zealand. Ycfc, last year she absorbed 22,026 persons by tho excess of immigration over emigration, while New Zealand gained only 977 ! :In the same way Now South Waes gained 22,026, and South Australia 15,979. Even tho population of sleepy Tasmania was mii creased by 2,692 persons from this source, l and stagnant South Australia and Western ! Australia in equal numbers. Do our Government really give heed to or grasp the significance of these nomborsV If thoy do, they must see the paramount need of iiiitating a vigorous colonising policy — a policy which will settle the people on the land and employ them remuneratively in various industries. Fortunately, tho natural increase in our population will save us from absolute retrogression and decay. By theexcees of births owr deaths last year 12,998 souls were added to the population. .But the cry " What shall we do with our boys?" is gaining in intensity day by day, and splendid young colonials who form the very life blood ofthe colony aro only too numerous in the drift which is setting away from a land which denies them a livelihood. There aro three ways which all persons with any pretension to sound judgment are agreed will change all this in a single year T Ist. Settlement of the people on the land. 2nd. Tho encouragement of industries. 3rd. The encouragement of British farmers with capital to cast in their lot with us and cultivate our vast areas of land, now lying unoccupied or peopled by sheep. Then why in the name of all that is rational do tlie Government not at once bring down a broad policy on these lines instead of wasting bhe time of Parliament and wearying the country with measures which it is ofnot bho slightest consequence whether they are considered now or ton years hence ? Why i~ it that when the people clamour for bread they persistently offer them a stone ? Theso aro questions which our members must soon put in such form as will leave tho Cabinet no option bub to answer satisfactorily or vacate a position which they are incompetent to fill.