POPULATION AND DEFENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 113, 14 May 1936, Page 6

POPULATION AND DEFENCE.

0£ the growing interest in Empire migration there are numerous signs, but of practical proposals little is yet offered. This is because Britain, which has been most concerned about the problem so far, can do nothing by herself. The co-operation of the Dominions is necessary. Britain can supply the people, though of what class and up to what number is not knoAvn, but the Dominions have not yet been willing to receive. For this unwillingness there has been good reason. Of what value would it be to bring out immigrants while there were still large numbers of unemployed? In what industries could they be placed, and what would be the effect upon taxes, the standard of living and the export position? These are questions which have weighed in the past, and still weigh to-day. Both New Zealand and Australia are doing their utmost to find employment for their idle thousands on public Avorks and in directions which will not increase the amount of exportable produce; -they aret grappling with the unemployed problem, but they have not yet solved it. In proportion to their populations they have probably as many people out of work as Britain. But against this they have opportunities for development, provided satisfactory markets are restored, which do not exist in Britain. A redistribution of population is therefore one aspect of a pressing economic problem. It is also part of a defence problem. Mr. Savage recognised this when he said recently that population must be the Dominion's first line of defence.