BIG ISSUES

Evening Post, Issue 11, 13 July 1936, Page 10

BIG ISSUES

PROBLEMS AHEAD

MPERIAL RELATIONS

MIGRATION QUESTION

Some of the problems facing the "British Commonwealth of Nations in the immediate future were dealt with by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) in an interview today. Mr. Savage stressed the need for solidarity among the countries of the Empire. Those in high places, said the Prime Minister, would have to consider the advisability of investing their surplus wealth in British countries. "As long as we invest our surplus wealth in other countries we have to deal with other countries," said the Prime Minister. "I do not think that the fact that we invest our surplus wealth in countries making up the British Commonwealth of Nations will make us insular in any way. It is a well-known fact that you must trade where you put your money. When the nation is strong the Commonwealth of Nations will be strong, and when the Commonwealth of Nations is strong it will be something worth while for the rest of the world, to deal with. LAYING THE FOUNDATION. "It has been said that the Coronation period is not the correct time for the consideration of important economic questions, but in my view it is the time for laying the economic foundation on which to build. It certainly may not be convenient at the moment, but if a few men remained behind until the job is done much could ,be accomplished." Mr. Savage was asked if it was likely that the Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Nash) would have to spend a considerable time in Britain. He replied that that was quite likely. At the same time he did not anticipate any hold-up in the marketing arrangements as the machinery was running fairly well. The Government was certainly up against a few people who were trying to throw a Spanner into the wheels, but generally there . was no difficulty, and there was a desire on all sides to co-operate with the Government. It was quite possible that mistakes would be made, but they would be corrected. They could only M-ork in the light of experience. The Prime Minister agreed that in any approach to Great Britain to take more of New Zealand's produce the question of immigration would naturally arise. "The building of New Zealand naturally implies the increasing of New Zealand's population," he said. "With due'apologies to £>r. Munro and other critics, I would say that the policy of New Zealand is to increase the buying power of New Zealand. That would make New Zealand a better customer to the countries of the British . Kmpire. It would also make it easier to carry on the resources of New Zealand if there was a bigger population. , But we must begin at the right end. And we cannot begin a policy of migration without preparing the way at this end. We do not want to repeat old errors and see ten or twelve men struggling for one job. COMMON-SENSE LINES. "Any policy of migration must be carried out on common-sense lines, and must embrace- development .of New Zealand industries, both primary and secondary. It means preparing _ a place for the immigrants. We must increase our secondary production as well as consider the possibilities of a greater primary production. Of course, that involves the encouragement of ther other members of the British Commonwealth of Nations,to increase their buying power as well." A,chaotic state of affairs existed in the world today, and it was a question of- organisation to bring about a better distribution of our produce. "But we will not ask for migration until we have thoroughly prepared the way," said Mr. Savage. "The whole thing today is wrapped up in defence, migration, and industrial development. You can have all the military experts in the world, but you cannot expect them to defend a territory that is only partially populated. We have to sur-, vey the whole of New Zealand's possi-bilities,-in the way of land development and development of secondary industries. That involves some of the things we have already started upon, such as the modernising of railways and road transport." Migrants, said Mr. Savage, would have to be carefully .selected. For! instance, it was no use bringing men out from England who had had no experience of farming,' and expecting 'them to make good on the land. He did not expect to have men with a university education, but he did expect them to have some experience of farming life. Men who could do a good day's work and use their heads were required. He agreed it was no use asking an unemployed British artisan' to make a good farmer, although he had known a good many good Brit- , ish miners to make good on the land in New Zealand.

"BLOOD THICKER THAN "WATER."

"After- all, it was only a matter of common sense. It was a question of getting the British people, both at Home and abroa3, to realise that blood was thicker than water in coming to some common arrangement between all the peoples of the British Commonwealth of Nations. It was merely a question of working out the details.