POPULATION

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 70, 24 March 1937, Page 11

POPULATION

TWO-FOLD PROBLEM

FALLING BIRTH-RATE

MIGRATION ISSUE

The problem of the decreasing birthrate was discussed by the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E.-Parry) in an interview wjth a "Post" reporter today. The Minister stated that while in Christchurch. he.had received a de-

putation, which: had presented the.problem to him and 'had also .urged tlie- desirability of increased migration.:. ;',

"I' told the . deputation,"•'-'said' Mr. Parry; "that., in my opinion the Dominion needed a greater' population. There are • two. questions: ■: first, ;the necessity for an in the. birthrate, and second, the matter; of' bringing people to New" Zealand from overseas.1 I belisve; the first question is.of great importance; because/it affects the increase of the population/ofthe. world, while. immigration- is merelya. matter of moving people from one country to another, ..But. always :iri. these; problems there comes to my mind the position., of-the motKe'r. ■ '■■■■■'■:■:- ""'• ;• ; \ .;: CASE FOR a THE MOTHER. ;,,'■ "In:her:trials and worries she must not be left unaided as in the past.'She remains .'in her. home, wi^h her ; little brood. She has no opportunity to.' get away withher children from her everyday surroundings, : 'If her ■ constitutioii be, strong enough to eriable her.to live through: the period' of family life ,ih her day-to-day;/existence, -without ending up a physical'and mental wreck/.she is .indeed" lucky*;- i Make '.rib rrtistake—this is .the picture .that young womeni.have today/tb'face. when/entering the .marriage state;,/ While-we/stand ;by and 'allo\v "that.mental picture—real as it is —to be/deeply embedded in.the!minds of young mothers, so long will we. have the position of •■■'our. ..birth-rate,-.on/ the 'decline.".;;:-; ■/..///- ■ ■:.--/://./. '!.•'.■;:';' .''■'. IMPORTANCE OF MIGRATION. ? :i.The Minister...said',that/the';question of . immigration:. was of* great; importance tb the'future of'the Dominion^'. "It is- not,just-a matter,"-Mr. Parry said,', "pf getting;aminigrants : here/to eat .the. food that the people here ■ already produce. We" want more'people here' because .we1 haye room 'for .'the'tri to, produce goods and to render, service to the State.- We have room =in our. development to .absorb the .activities, of "thousands, more people.' With. them1 we- .could -ease' the burden- .'of those-already here, providing their absorption;-was scientifically planned arid wisely; directed. : But my immigration scheme must-be preceded :.by ;,:a careful' national-survey, of : our;.national resources, including-.loind,' .-minerals, rainfall,; and:,oiher:factors.; ,£~\\\\ -^;

./"A/very::firie;/ ; illustratiori-;Avas given me/, during .rayv: recent^.visit. to the Cawthron/ Institute of 'what ■ could now be achieved in'that way/. The director ;showed; me a map.': of 'the Murchison district." Oriit "theiristitute: had block after /block rlaid/'out,vshpwing ,; what crops' could be produced profitably on 'the various;areas of land./I said,,' Well; ,ifvwe'-'-gaye : '.ypu.'-;the.-.people/you could '^dyise-them -.what crops;to:- put in?' The.-reply';instantly. came, .'Yes.'".'. So 'there^we.have^the;- start, of : a; national survey - arid: all that it means, in -impbrtahce.:tb ,the settling :of .people on the land. '■; The plan,;; is:. excellent; -inr,.-.-. its own ' significance' Jit :■ carries^ weight."