Population Capacity Of N.Z.

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 271, 11 August 1943, Page 4

Population Capacity Of N.Z.

Sir, —In your leading article of the 6th instant, the soundness of my statement that this country is capable of carrying a population of 10,000,000 is questioned. As I have no desire to exaggerate any aspect of our campaign for a greater population, I shall be glad, if you will afford me space, to explain the evidence on which the statement ’was founded. It is obvious that-under our present methods of rural settlement, no such numbers could be satisfactorily carried. New Zealand is a small country, and much of it is mountainous, therefore, in order to support a population sufficient to ensure its security, eloser settlement of the land is imperative. We shall have to think in terms other than meat, wool and dairy produce, though these products will, doubtless, for some years to come hold pride of place, provided always that markets for them are available. The precarious outlook, however, for such markets abroad leads us to the conclusion that the farmers would be well-advised to throw their weight into the campaign for a vastly increased population which will enable their produce to be consumed “on the spot.” A local market is by far the safest and the mosr. profitable. As the result of the 17 years during which I was manager of a farmers' “co-op,” I am convinced that the “small farming” industries could and should be considerably- expanded, for, apart from the fact that they facilitate a density of population for defence purposes," they also are productive of the greatest amount of wealth per acre from the soil. The fruit, vegetable, poultry and honey industries are capable of great expansion. There are, however, scores of other rural and sub-rural industries that are practically unknown here, yet. form very important sections of the activities of other countries with similar climatic conditions. The growing of farm, vegetable nnd flower seeds, bulbs, and countless other such undertakings all add considerably to a country's prosperity and even its greatness. . With a substantially larger population, hundreds of new secondary industries would automatically come into existence quite apart from the fact that the same condition would stimulate and expand existing ones. New Zealand has i. 000.000 E.H.P. of potential water power, of which over 6,000.000 is running to waste. The estimate of a. 10.000,000 carrying capacity is substantiated by the following authorities: —Over 10 years ago Lord Astor’s Committee (of the House of Commons) on Migration gave the following estimates based on the density of population of the United States of ' America —Canada 50,000,000, Australia 46.000.000. and New Zealand ■ 13.000.000. Lord Bledisloe (who not only has a thorough knowledge of New Zealand, but is also a highly qualified auricultural authority) at the Kmpire Miiiration and Development Conference hold at the Guildhall, London, October, 1937, said : “New Zealand is capable of absorbing during the next naif-century from 10' to 20 million Britishers. Our own Ministers, during the last few weeks, have given their opinions on the question as follows:.Mr. Semple 10,<X)O,OOO, and Mr. Nash 5/6,000.000. Todav. however, the paramount question is’not what the country will carry generations hence, but how we can double and treble it during the next decade, xt is also, not only what number we can absorb, but what number of white immigrants can we obtain in order to.atford this land of ours security against the 1 000.000.000 of near neighbours we have in (he Eart. All sparsely populated countries will actively bid up for; available immigrants (the demand promises to far exceed the supply), and we shall lose our last chance unless we plan early and attractively and be ready to act immediately pence conics. —I am, etc.—A. LETGIT HUNT, Chairman, Dominion Settlement Association. Wellington. 9/8/43.