WORKS AND MEN

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 31, 6 August 1923, Page 6

WORKS AND MEN

«c of the present generation hold New Zealand in trust for those who will come after us. We have a higher obligation than merely to live our own lives and satisfy our own needs. This point was tersely and forcibly made by the Hon. J. G. Coates when speaking in Christehureh of future development works. The great programme of railways, roads, and hydro-electric power works was intended, he said, to prepare the way for a greater population. If the present population alone were considered it was doubtful if the works could be undertaken or would be justified ; but unless New Zealand was in a position to receive the best of the British people who were prepared to come to this Dominion the country would las .behind. This is uudo.uljt.edjy

true. Works which bring new areas within reach, or enable closer settlement to be profitably undertaken, are preparations for immigration just as truly as the land settlement schemes of some of the Australian States. In order that the greatest benefit may be derived immediately from these works, it is necessary, however, not only that the development shall be well planned, but that equal forethought shall be shown in bringing the immigrants into touch with the new works. We have before emphasised that the work of Departments of State should be coordinated for dealing with immigrants, and the determination to proceed with a well-prepared programme of development works does not diminish that necessity. On the contrary, it increases it.