EMPIRE’S EMPTY SPACES

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22666, 22 March 1939, Page 3

EMPIRE’S EMPTY SPACES

Planned Migration

Advocated

“UNEMPLOYMENT CURE”

, £THE PRESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON. March 21, Reasons for the desirability of planned migration between the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and other parts of the British Empire were advanced to-day by Mr H. Amos, Dominion organiser of the Dominion Settlement Association, who was the speaker at the weekly Rotary Club luncheon. ‘‘Many of us have long been disturbed at the empty spaces in our vast possessions, with their great potential wealth, and their almost unlimited natural resources,” said Mr Amos.

The Dominions were dangerously under-populated, and England was economically overcrowded. It was difficult to say which was the greater weakness; but some adjustment was very necessary. England to-day was the most densely-populated country in the world. Man-power, continued Mr Amos, was the only factor that seemingly appealed to the atavistic policy and pagan creed of the totalitarian States, This was a lamentable conclusion, but he believed it was true. It was estimated that the British Empire could accommodate 200,000,000 people. Some might say that was absurd, that it would only lead to overpopulation, and result in poverty and starvation. There never was a greater fallacy, and when the position was examined, that was clear. Sociologists told us that the world was not suffering from over-produc-tion, but under-consumption, and the problem was how to consume more. Modern proposals for migration and settlement were based on a candid recognition of past mistakes, and on a determination to eliminate them by businesslike and scientific methods. The old methods were, of course, impossible, and> would rightly invoke justifiable criticism and prejudice. Migration to-day must be carefully planned and organised, adequately financed, and properly supervised. Weaknesses of Empire

Apart from a very great weakness of the Empire, that of man-power, another great weakness was that of unemployment. It was true that every industrial country was suffering similarly; Taut no other country possessed New Zealand’s potential wealth and natural resources, and therefore the same opportunities of curing the evil. National security, however, must be placed before social and economic security. Migration not only would fill up the empty spaces in the British Dominions, thereby increasing manpower and making the Empire strong and powerful enough to enforce and maintain world peace; but it could also cure unemployment within the Empire. "We are confronted with a vicious circle of causes and effects in the matter of unemployment,” said Mr Amos. Lack of purchasing power caused a glut in consumer-goods, both food and manufactured articles, which resulted in a curtailment of production. Curtailment of production caused unemployment, and unemployment caused lack of purchasing power. The vicious circle must be broken. Purchasing power could only be increased by productive work. It could not be increased by doles and extravagant public works. / Mr Amos dealt with some Of the fallacies expressed in regard to migration, and the findings of conferences in the United Kingdom advocating migration. “History informs us,” Mr Amos added, “why great empires and dynasties of the past perished. Knowing the facts, and considering the wealth and natural resources of the mightiest Empire the world has known, also that our Empire stands for the blessings of liberty, justice, and peace, it will be a colossal tragedy if we fail to recognise our obligations to safeguard our birthright. It is possible, by wise foresight and statesmanship, to initiate in the Empire an era of prosperity and progress through migration such as the world has never yet seen anywhere at any time.” The job was not one for one man, but for every citizen in New Zealand. He appealed to those present to help this worthy cause. ■