REDISTRIBUTING PEOPLE

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 76, 31 March 1934, Page 10

REDISTRIBUTING PEOPLE

' While emphasising Australia's dependence on exports, the Premier of New South Wales, Mr. Stevens, recently expressed the view that Britain would be able shortly to cooperate with the Dominions in dealing with the difficult question of capital investment and population expansion. If they had a bigger population they would have a very much better home market. The statement is important in that it recognises that people as well as goods must enter into any comprehensive production plan. It has yet to be demonstrated that planning is possible; but, if it is to be effective in a large it must consider producer as well as production, and be prepared to deal with human material' as well as with material things. Assuming that capital may become available at a • comparatively low rate of interest, can Britain give the Dominions an acceptable lead in the redistribution of population? Mr. Stevens's statement seems to suggest an affirmative answer. It implies that either the acceptance in Britain of Australian goods, or the aicceptance in Australia of British people as settlers, is a necessary factor in any settlement that will insure the present creditor and debtor relation. Empire-building must necessarily, be based on both.