The Scheme of .Things

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 82, 3 October 1936, Page 19

The Scheme of .Things

By M.H.C,

A very great deal has been thought, said, and written by various people, learned and, unlearned, about the necessity for increasing the population of this country. The subject is a deeply interesting one to people who think. There are>so many side issues and considerations that do not appear to come to the minds of people who write books or brochures or who lecture or "address" (this last word is a very favourite one nowadays), and the many points of view are most intriguing to those who really do think. No one denies that there is-an immense amount of waste country in New Zealand. No one can take a train! motor, or still more striking, an aeroplane trip, without, seeing thousands of hills and dales unused except for scattered dwellings, places where those who live in towns wonder how the inmates exist without any of the amenities of life, in loneli-! ness, distant from medical and religious aid, separated from the warmth of other human company, and of course

without "pictures." A great many, one is thankful to know, are able to enjoy that immense blessing, wireless,and can hear the news of the Dominion and of the world and be cheered with music and entertainment of various kinds. (Just a word in passing about this last. Do any of those people who struggle to have more classical programmes ever think that the backblocks people, many of them, have not had.the advantage of a musical education and therefore the programmes of plays, stories, lighter music, and so forth are needed for tired folk who have been out all day and just want a little fun. over the air before turning

into bed? It is a real need, there is no doubt.)

These scattered places could be filled, of course, but how? Several learned gentlemen have urged that New Zea-land-born children should be the people to fill the waste places and cause them "to blossom like the rose." All very well, but those in this country who have regular jobs on small salaries know well how terribly difficult it is to make ends meet in these days of heavy taxation and rates. They lose so much weekly in the unemployment tax; they have the rates on their cottages continually raised (if they are fortunate enough to have a roof they can call their own in spite of heavy ■ taxing) ; or they have an exorbitant rental to pay, for there is not such a thing as a cheap residence for respectable people who require cleanliness and a modicum of sunshine for themselves and any possible children. If both those requirements are there they have to

be paid for heavily, and then probably tram or bus fares must be added as there is nothing possible to be had at a cheap rental within the city area. These fares have lately gone up considerably and further deplete the small purse. People are being told that they are eating terribly wrong food, and specially that the children must have a regular supply of good vegetables and fruit. But at what price?

' Next is the question of expense at the time of the birth of a little oneMany well-nurtured young women have a great dislike to going into an institution for the event, and if not—do

those who urge the larger families know what is the cost? Then comes the food of the infant after weaning. Nowadays when science has gone into the question of body-building properly—the nutriment of bone, muscle, pure blood; nerves, and what-not — what an expensive item is the food of the small one! But no one nowadays likes to feel that the child is not having the best possible, expensive though it may be. And so the story goes on. Everything is rising in price, food, clothing, service of all kinds. These things have to to considered by young couples who are not reckless or inconsiderate of the future.

Others wonder, too, what kind of a world these little new-boms are going to'find left for them by the passingon generation, some of whom wish that they should be here in great numI bers in order to keep the white races somewhere within reach of the number of the coloured. Are they going to be ■allowed to come to maturity at all? Are they going to be in a world that is perpetually under the murky shadows of war? Are they going to inherit a load of debt, national and civic, so that their earnings when they become men and women will be heavily impounded to pay for the expenses imposed by past' and gone legislation? No parents like to think that their children will start life heavily handicapped by debts which they themselves have had no chance of denying, and that they will be called upon to pay for the expenditure thrust upon the world before they were born.

All these things come to the minds of thoughtful people who quite realise the necessity for more white population. Bi£ while the world keeps up such a high standard of living, of comfort, not to mention luxury, there is little chance of things being better. The race for amusement today is simply piteous, the restlessness of life phenomenal; and those who try to live a quiet life'are left in a backwater, where no affectionate'parents would like to see their children placed. What everyone knows is that there is so little opportunity for the young, highlyeducated people to be at all reasonably well-placed here, that they drift off to other countries, and, go where the traveller will he will find New Zealanders in good positions and that they have no intention of returning to their native land. There is waste of population there —a constant drain on the numbers, and of the best the country can produce; while many .stay restlessly as means will not permit them to go further afield. It is all wrong no doubt, but what is to be done? It certainly behoves those who gaily cry "fill the cradles" to look round and see how they are being filled at present. It would interest them to know what sort of little ones are brought into the world by the absolutely unthinking, or to know how many should never' have been born, for their heritage is only suffering if they are kept alive by care and scientific attention. ' There is not the slightest doubt that what : is needed here, or in any young country, is a good home-born population, but, as things are at present, those parents who have wisdom and forethought are aware that there are many difficulties in the path of those who would love to see their homes filled with happy, healthy children, a pleasure and a blessing to their parents, and being prepared for useful and happy citizens in the future. When the future is more assured, and the clouds lift at the other end of the world; and if the burden of taxation on the industrious and cleanliving is removed, or at least lessened reasonably, then it is more than likely that there will be plenty more little New Zealanders to populate a country which has so' many advantages as has i this beautiful Dominion. .