A BACKGROUND TO THE NEWS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 42, 13 November 1937, Page 9

A BACKGROUND TO THE NEWS

Japan’s Population Tbe Government Bureau of Statistics in Tokio announces that Japans population has increased by 994.600 in the past year to 71,252,800. The islands of Japan, five-sixths mountainous, with more than 100 active volcanoes, subject to frequent and disastrous earthquakes, tidal waves. Hoods, typhoons, droughts, and crop failures from other natural calamities. have agricultural land to the extent of only about 70,000 square miles. In earlier times when they were fewer, the Japanese lived mostly upon the soil. The teeming millions to-day are enabled to live in Japan at present only by the intensive industrialisation ami heavy exports of their native land. The solution of the problems created by a population that has increased, by more than 8.000,000 in 10 years, is the objective that colours all of Japan’s policies. Though all available land in Japan is already occupied, emigration is no answer to the population question, according to Prince Konoye, who said that the Japanese are not good emigrants. Despite the increasingly severe economic conditions in Japan, the Government has been unable to induce the Japanese to emigrate to Korea or Manchuria. Had the Japanese been a good coloniser he would have populated Manchuria long ago. according to Prince Konoye. The most hopeful solution of Hie overcrowded condition of Japan, also according to Prince Konoye, is in the industrialisation of that country. This in turn involves such additional questions as to where to secure raw materials and where to market finished products, the answer to both of which they believed is China, a country that would afford a great market for the finished products made up in Japan from China’s own resources. The natural resources of China would make that country, if political conditions permitted, an admirable source of supply for Japan, whose resources are comparatively poor.

Ellis Island The Ellis Island authorities detained Madame Magda de Fontange, a former actress and journalist, who shot the Comte de Chambrun, former French Ambassador to Rome.

Ellis Island, the "Gateway of the New World,” lies in Upper New York Bay, and’has a present are of about 21 acres. Its extent was but 3.3 acres when tbe Dutch citizens rowed over there several centuries ago to dine on oysters under pavilions—hence the old ( name, Kiosk Island; later Gull Island, and finally Ellis Island, after the proprietor, Samuel Ellis, who died in 1794. It was included as jart of New York by a charter of 1730, and it remains part of Manhattan to the present day. In 1794 it was released to the State of New York for “the purpose of fortification and no other.” The laws of 1800 and 1880 ceded it to the Federal Government New York City claims that it has never relinquished possession of the island, but only ceded it to the State for a specific use, to revert to the city when that specific use ceased.

For many years Ellis Island was used as a powder magazine. In 1892 the Federal Government began to use it as an immigration station. The original wooden buildings were destroyed by fire in 1897, and the present substantial buildings were completed in 1900. Two islands were built to the southwest of the original one and tied to it by causeways. Later, in 1915 and in 1920, made land was added. Foreign ships were permitted to dump their ballast there, so that much of the made ground is foreign soil. Before restrictive measures cut down the flood of immigrants, Ellis Island was a considerable city. It possessed hospitals, a dormitory with 3000 beds, and- a hotel where 2000 people could be fed. Indian Government

Speaking in London, Lord Zetland stated that the recent Government granted to India, on a democratic basis, was meeting with great success throughout the whole country. The Government of India Act, passed by a large majority in the British Parliament over the opposition of tbe diehard Conservatives and the Labourites, received the Royal Assent on August 2, 1935. The India Act establishes a federation embracing British India and the Native States, with a wide measure of autonomy for the eleven provinces as set up, and for responsibility at the centre. The Viceroy has a council <>f Ministers answerable to the National Legislature. H e administers tbe “re served departments," India’s foreign atfhirs and defence, through counsellors; and may act on his own responsibility in other departments in certain casesi He can only be over-ruled by the Government in Britain. He can veto any bill or reserve it for decision in London.

The National Legislature, sitting at Delhi, composed of an Upper House or Council of State, consists of 156 representatives of the Provinces elected directly, and not more than 104 representatives of the Native States (about 600 in number, with a total population of 81,000,000). One-third of tbe members retire every year. The House of Assembly—elected indirectly for five years unless sooner dissolved—has 250 representatives of tbe Provinces and 125 of the Native States. '

Tbe Parliament has a general right of discussion and criticism with a qualified authority over finance and a right of legislation. If the Chambers disagree over legislation, provision is made for a joint sitting. The franchise is based on property qualifications, and a fairly high educational standard. Tbe hope is that India will ultimately attain to Dominion status. The National Trust

Further areas of natural beauty and historic interest have been saved in England for the nation and vested in the National Trust.

The British National Trust for Places of Historic Interest, or Natural Beauty is a voluntary society which exists to acquire for the nation "beauty spots" or places of historic interest which might otherwise be lost through urban or other development or marred by utilitarian schemes. Its purpose is thus supplementary to that of societies which already existed to safeguard ancient. buildings and monuments. The trust has acquired large areas in the Lake District, where it owns Buttermere, Crummoek Water and Loweswater. It also purchased Bolberry Down, near Bolt Head, South Devon, and a wild stretch of the Cornish coast between Land’s End and Sennen Cove. Much country has been given to it by philanthrophists and organisations.

Another important work of the trust is the start made in creating a national park in Snowdonia. In 1935 nearly <>O,-111 acres of the most beautiful country in England and Wales wore cither bought by the trust for the nation or preserved against spoliation. The offices are in London.