SELF-CONTAINED EMPIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 131, 4 June 1923, Page 5

SELF-CONTAINED EMPIRE.

FACTORS OF WEALTH. PEOPLING THE DOMINIONS. FROM ENGLANUS SURPLUS. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) LONDON, June 3. A notable speech on Empire settlement ' was delivered by Mr. L. C. M. S. Amery, 'First Lord of the Admiralty. at Oriel College, Oxford. Mr. Amery said that slowly but surely it was coming homo to the people that the certain hope of recovery from the aftereffects of the war was the development of the resources of the British ComjiwiI wealth. Within the Empire were all the factors, material and human, for the creation of wealth on a scale which would make even the burden of war indebtedness seem insignificant. The existing distribution of population resulted in lack of bala'nco between prim- . ary production and industry, which accentuated the uncertainty of economic conditions in the Home "country. The : British Empire in the main bad not I grown up by conquest, but by settlement. J INCREASE BY EMIGRATION. I It was but a seeming paradox that the j more people emigrated the more there were in the Home country. There were S 50.000.000 people in the British islands ' not because but in spjte of the fact that ; there were another 50,000,000 people of j British descent outside who represented I past emigration. These present 50,000.000 iin the Home country were more than j could be supported under present conditions, but there was no reason why ■ Britain should not support even more if ; millions could be sent to the Dominions :to create conditions under which those left behind could nourish and increase. With every new settlement Britain secured fresh supplies of raw materials : and foodstuffs, as well as fresh markets; ] consequentry she was able to support a i larger population at home. Mr. Amory, iin conclusion, recited figures showing the ! importance of the trade of the Dominions.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.)