FIVE MILLION.

Auckland Star, Volume LVXIII, Issue 53, 4 March 1937, Page 11

FIVE MILLION.

POPULATION CLUB.

AUCKLAND BRANCH FORMED. HON. W. E. BARNARD'S MOVEMENT. Citizens of Auckland last night pledged (heir support to the movement initiated by the Hon. AV. E. Ilarnar.l, M.P., Speaker of the House of Representatives, to establish the Xew Zealand Five Million Club, wlnvc object is to promote the increase of the Dominion's population. Mr. Barnard- addressed a representative gathering of about 400 in the Town Hall concert chainoer. The Mayor, Mr. Kniest Davis, presided, and it was resolved to *-et up an Auckland branch of the Five Million Club. Among those mi the platform with Mr. Barnard and the Mayor were the lit. Rev. Dr. .f. M, Liston, Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland, Professor F. P. Worlev and Mr. J. A. C. Allum. Mr. Barnard said he was not an immigrant himself, nor was ho the son of one. and so he could not be accused of being partial. In years past members of the Labour party, to which he belonged, had condemned in no uncertain terms the haphazard immigration methods of the immediate post-war veins. If immig.'ation was to be taken Up iigain. it must follow carefully-con.-idered plans. He firmly believed that the time was now ripe to begin properly-plalined immigration. "To-day we have the matter to a great extent in our own hands," said Mr. Barnard. "We still have the right to say who shall come into this country and who shall stay out. We may not always have that right. The day may come when we no longer have the present free choice to let in, or exclude people as we desire. The time to act is now, when we have complete freedom of action.'' (Applause.) Natural Increase. Mr. Barnard gave figures which illustrated the failure of the natural increase to meet the position. Once u decline in population set in as a result of the falling birth rate it was likely that it would continue at an ever-increasing pace. "Xow, that is a gloomy picture," added the speaker, "but I have other figures to show that the picture, if a gloomy one, is a true one." He urged that the people should not sit down in gloom, but should rise to action. The position would not be so desperate if the Dominion already had a population commensurate with her potential resources. How was. the birth rate to be raised? Mr. Barnard asked. The mere general raising of the standard of living would not necessarily be a solution. Large families were to be found in the poorer sections of the, people—although that could not be laid down as a dogma. Assisting young people—from, say, °.l to 2."> years of age—to marry, and making special concessions, irrespective of income, for married couples who produce! families of more than two children, wivid help to solve the problem. But the major problem, the question of the scarcity of people in the Dominion, would still be unsolved. The operation of an immigration policy, lie considered, was the war out.

As for the development of secondary industries, on which thought was now being concentrated, the extent to which expansion could be carried out here depended upon the. ability to consume the product*. An expanding population was necessary if secondary production was to play the part in the national economy which was considered desirable and necessary. Mr. Barnard turned to the expansion of public utilities. Roads, railways and hydro-electric services were being continually added to. What was the justification for all thi* expenditure if the population was going to reach a stationary position and then decline? Social services were likewise being expanded at increased cost, but with a stationary population and an increasing percentage of aged people, a point must eventually be reached when those services must be curtailed. Unemployment Objection. The question of unemployment whs raised by many people ;ss an objection to immigration. Mr. Barnard said. To empty people into New Zealand, miselected and without foresight, would certainly increase unemployment, and this would be also aggravated if the country had reached a limit to its natural resources. But if people came under a carefully-thought-out plan, with a definite provision against becoming a burden on the country, that objection could have 710 ground. It had to bo realised that the migrant would be a consumer as well as a producer—he would be stomach and body a.s well as hands. A survey of resources was needed, on which should be based 'a national settlement and development •.lan.

The aspect of defence was dealt with by Mr. Barnard on the lines of his previous addresses. He reminded his audience of the words of the Prime Minister: ""Population is the best form of defence." What would make New Zealand safe was n population commensurate with her resource*. (Applause.)

The best brains in New Zealand would be needed to devise the most suitable immigration policies, the speaker added. Fairbridge schools, farm settlements and small farms hud been suggested. The importation of new industries, plant, capital and workers seemed a very sound scheme. The speaker was inclined, however, to think that a number of schemes operating at the same time would be more satisfactory than a single one. It was set out in the resolution passed by the meeting that the increase of population should be promoted first by methods designed to raise the rate of natural increase within New Zealand, and secondly by immigration, with special reference to planning, so as to avoid any social or economic dislocation within the Dominion, and to aftercare, so that new citizens from abroad might sooner be absorbed in the communal life of Xew Zealand. The resolution was moved by Mr. Allum and seconded by Professor Worley. The following committee, with power to add. was appointed: Mr. W. J. Lyon, M.P.. the Hon. T. Bloodworth, M.L.C., Colonel C. K. Spragg. Dr. E. P. Xeale, Professor F. P. Worley. the Rev. W. W. Averill, Messrs. D. Holderness. G D. De Guerrier. Dawson Donaldson. X. G. Gribble. F. X. Ambler. J. T. F. Mitchell, |G. Clarke. N. R. W. Thomas. F. H. (Leonard. J. A. C. Allum. G. F. Joseph, !C. X. Rkhwhite. T. U. Wells. T,i*le. ' Alderton. W. R. Fee. J. E. J. T. Williams. A. G. Lunn. W. H. Cocker. H. Hearslev. C. Aveiiell. K. H. Wright, and jthe Rca. .1. A. Thompson.

Citizen- of all *),nrie- of political I'runio'i met at tlip Mount Edi>n tori kiosk ye-tordny aftornoon. and Mr. Barnard di>cu*-sed informally with them! his plan of campaign. •