EMPIRE MIGRATION

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 142, 17 June 1936, Page 14

EMPIRE MIGRATION

XEW ZEALAND'S FUTURE BUSINESS MEN'S VIEWS "The subject of migration is a very vital one in the interests of this country," said Mr. M. G. C. McCaul at a meeting of the Council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce last evening. "Everybody who has studied the results of the recent Census must have been impressed with the evidence of the comparative stagnation of the Dominion population. "Our population is not increasing to the extent that the climate and possibilities of the country seem to warrant," Mr. McCaul added. He asked those present to consider the problem of population from three aspects, namely, safety, national prosperity, and duty. In regard to safety, he was sure that recent experiences in Europe must cause us to pause and consider our position—whether it was not "flying in the face of Providence" not to fill our vacant spaces with the type of people with whom we would like to associate. It appeared that the people of some other nations coveted this land. Our country should have a population of from two to three times that which It now had. Our standard was nothing like what it would be if we had lower taxation and lower overhead; if we had more people to share our burdens and our industries. SHORTAGE OF SKILLED MEN. "What is our position today?" asked Mr. McCaul. "There is a serious shortage of skilled artificers in every skilled trade in New Zealand." Surely, he said, we would be wise to go to Great Britain and search out skilled men, and bring them out to build up our industries, and teach our young men their trades. We should supplement our natural population by opening our doors to our kinsmen overseas. Good British stock and good Northern European stock was stock of the right kind. He was not discussing the quality of New Zealanders; it was the lack [of numbers he complained about. "Let us say to the British and Northern European people: 'Here is a fine land; come and share it with us.'"

A VITAL SUBJECT. Mr. A. R. Hislop said he was very pleased to hear Mr. McCaul's views on this very vital subject. It was a matter that deserved the greatest consideration of the Government and people of this country. We must have increased population here if the country was to progress as it should do. We should have more trained British men here. Mr. Hislop quoted statistics to show the slow natural increase of our population, and suggested that some financial assistance might be given to encourage young people to marry and bring up families, as their forbears had done. Mr. R. H. Nimmo suggested that a conference be called to see if a concrete proposal could rot be made to the peopla of the Mother Country which would result in a migration which would be to the advantage of both parts of the Empire. Mr. W. M. Wright pointed out that under the National Provident Fund maternity assistance was provided. CO-OPERATION PROBABI.E. The president (Mr. C. J. B. Norwood) remarked that he thought the Imperial Government would co-operate with New Zealand in regard to Empire migration, and that a considerable amount of money could be made available for the purpose. Messrs. McCaul, Hislop, Wright, Nimmo, Millar, and Captain Holm were appointed a committee to consider the question and report to the council of the Chamber of Commerce.