New Interest In Migration

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 208, 30 May 1936, Page 20

New Interest In Migration

44 W /Efl-T.’. 11 b arm can be done to the cause of Empire development % /h security by the insistence on one-sided views,” says tin u/ I "financial Tinies" (London). "To consider migration, foi JL v JsL example, as a means of solving Um immediate problem of unemployment in this country is to invite from the Dominions the reply that, they have their own unemployed to deal with, and can only hope to absorb them, with any new at rivals, if markets are guaranteed for the products of their labour.” “However true this may be at the moment, signs are not. wanting that overseas statesmen are beginning to see the matter in another light." adds Hie "Financial Times. I’iiey are realising that it. is not in the long run so much a question whether migration will relieve the United Kingdom of a burden, as whether Hie occupation of their own territories is secure with the’present sparce populations. “Canada’s continental situation [daces her in a sttecial category, but Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are faced with a decision whose difficulty has been intensified by the growth of 'totalitarian' as opposed tc democratic ideals of government. "Realisation of the need for action to meet the situation is being officially expressed in Australia. Mr. Lyons, the Prime Minister, has just said that a stage of recovery has been reached when the gates must again be opened to immigrants from Great Britain. He was endorsing the

it affirmation of Sir Robert Knox, the president of the Associated Chamber e of Commerce, at the Adelaide conference that the time had come for s' Federal and State Governments to appoint a commission to examine the >f position. "The Commonwealth’s dependence on overseas outlets for some of y her chief products is illustrated by the fact that, according to a recent (1 calculation, 1)4 per cent, of her wool is sold abroad. 70 per cent, of her wheat, and 5-1 per cent, of the butter output g "On the other hand, when population-carrying capacity is being considered. internal power of consumption must not be overlooked. Thus e Australia absorbed in 1932-33 80 per cent, of her meat production, over d tit) per cent, of her timber and (57 per eent. of preserved fruits other than 'S raisins and currants. “The history-of United States expansion during the past century has it certainly not been one of dependence on prearranged markets for the proe ducts of immigrants, but rather one of individual enterprise and taking o advantage of the fact that the newcomer is both a consumer and a producer. g “A carefully considered estimate places Australia's population capacity it at 30,000,000, hut, as Mr. St. Clare Grondomi has pointed out. it would n take more than a century to achieve this total at the present rate of e natural growth and assuming a yearly inflow of 50.000 persons."