PROBLEM FACING CANADA

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22336, 25 February 1938, Page 4

PROBLEM FACING CANADA

JAPANESE IN BRITISH COLUMBIA RAPID NATURAL GROWTH OF POPULATION The growth of the Japanese population in British Columbia,-the steps taken to safeguard the salmon industry, the condition of settlers in the dust belt of Canada in which the soil has been swept away, and the lumber trade of the most westerly province in Canada were topics discussed yesterday by Mr D. M. Robinson, of Vancouver, when interviewed by “The Press.” Although business conditions were improving, there was still a good deal of unemployment in Canada, said Mr Robinson. The failure of the wheat crop had especially affected the West. In Saskatchewan Province many settlers in the dust belt, which extended south through the United States, had left their farms and trekked to the Peace river, in the northern part of Alberta. For year after year wheat had been planted on the same land and, with nothing to hold it, the soil had disappeared in dust. “After 40 years of canning the supply of salmon has diminished, and, in an effort to build up the fish, an agreement has been reached between British Columbia and the United States to restrict the number of traps,” said Mr Robinson. The fishing concerns of the United States ‘had set their traps in. the Gulf of Georgia, separating Vancouver Island from the States, and caught the fish as they made their way to the Canadian fishing places. Although canning had suffered as a result of the unrestricted catches of salmon, it was still an important industry. The lumber trade was one of the mainstays of British Columbia, and the cutting-down of the forests had not yet reached the stage when reafforestation had become a question of serious concern. Although the lumbermen now had to go further back from the coast to get their supplies, extensive forests were still standing. Douglas fir was the main timber export, and cedar and spruce were also plentiful. For all aeroplanes made by Britain during the Great War, Mr Robinson mentioned, British Columbia spruce was ordered, and the trade was retained to the present. Japanese Good Citizens Of the total population of 700,000 in British Columbia, 35,000 were Japanese, who were admitted without restriction. The Japanese were refunded the capital levy made on them when they returned to their own country. Nearly all stayed, and they were very peaceful citizens and hard workers. One problem arising from their presence was the rapid natural growth of their population. The Japanese engaged mostly in market gardening and small fruit growing, very few fol-. lowing the calling of fishermen.