THE INFLOWING TIDE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 89, 15 April 1913, Page 4

THE INFLOWING TIDE.

The population returns for last year show that the influx of immigrants from the Old* World is beginning to produce a definite effect upon the condition of the country. During 191*2, it seems, the arrivals at New Zealand ports totalled nearly 47,000, of whom over 14,000 came from the United Kingdom. Of these over 3,400 were assisted immigrants; but the balance must have brought with them a considerable addition to the capitalised wealth of the Dominion. Tlie departures' for 1912 numbered nearly 35,000, and thus our actual gain from excess of arrivals was close on 12,000 for the year. The balance of arrivals over departures for 1911 was nearly 0,000, and this was considered satisfactory at the time. But the 1912 returns show an increase in this particular of more than .100 per cent, which is certainly very gratifying. There is still a considerable outflow from New Zealand to Australia, as the departures for the Commonwealth actually totalled 29,570 last year. But the. arrivals from Australia surpassed this total by a small margin, so that there is now no longer any ground for apprehension lest the advantages offered to settlers in various parts of the great Australian Continent lihould attract an undue share of_ our population. As we have so often pointed out, the existence of two'great cities in Australia, providing all the luxuries and benefits of city life for the many people who do not care for country pursuits and occupations, will always account for a steady annual exodus from New Zealand to the other aide of the Tasnian Sea. But last year, at all events, the Dominion more than held its own against the attractions of the Commonwealth. In regard to the class of immigrants whom we have received from Home, it is encouraging to observe that nearly 1,000 of these were farmers and farm labourers who may be expected to assist in opening up the country and- settling the land. But while we wisli to sec immigration of this type encouraged, it is futile to offer inducements to wouldbe settlers to come hero in the hope of taking up land while we have so little land at our disposal. It cannot be repeated too often that, for the time, settlement throughout the Dominion is being blocked and the iprogress of the country has, been brought to a standstill through the aggregation of large areas of land by a comparatively small number of holders; and till the Reform Government does something to remedy Kits evil, and to counteract the tendencies that have produced it, we may hope in vain for any serious increase to our population from ouhsidc.