NEED FOR MIGRATION

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 80, 5 April 1938, Page 17

NEED FOR MIGRATION

ACTION URGED

TO STIMULATE PUBLIC ,

OPINION

Superannuation schemes such as now exist and such as the one being put forward by the ' Government were "absolutely futile" unless steps were taken to bring into the country a number of young migrants, said Mr. A. L. Hunt at a meeting of those interested in immigration, over Which he presided last night. Any pension scheme had to be fed by a continual stream of young contributors, said Mr. Hunt, otherwise the time would come when those retiring on superannuation would outnumber the others and the scheme would fail. Within the next six, seven, or eight years the deaths .in New Zealand would overtake the births and the psychological effect of that would be "absolutely dreadful."

Mr. Hunt dealt with the history of the Dominion Settlement Association (under whose auspices last night's meeting was held) from its inception in 1925 to a recent deputation; to the Hon.,P. Fraser and the Hon. H. T. Armstrong. That deputation had so far been given no reply. The most recent move '.vas made by the Kotary conference in ' Christchurch which passed resolutions in favour of a greater population. "We seem to have come to the end of passing resolutions and we are here to try and decide what should be done," said Mr. Hunt. "Some of us believe there'is no hope for this country, nationally, economically, or from the point of view ■of defence unless we start a migration scheme almost immediately." "FORLORN HOPE." Mr. Hunt said that while he would like to see an increase instead of a decrease in the birth-rate he believed th«t that was a forlorn hope and that only a spiritual revival would bring it about. The only remedy was migration as quickly as possible. The apathy of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was mentioned by Mr. Hunt, who said it would be in the farmers' interests to have a greater population here to provide a market in place of that which would be lost as Britain's population declined. Anything that could be done in the way of migration to' New Zealand would have to be done in the next ten years, as when that time elapsed emigration from Britain would be discouraged. "There is only one course open to us," said Mr. Hunt. "If we don't make our voice heard betweehnbw and the election there may be a further period of procrastination, whatever Government goes back. We should stir up this country from one end to the other between now and the end of the year.", Mr. Hunt suggested that they, should persuade, the Rotary movement to undertake the organisation of meetings in the cities and towns throughout New Zealand, and that, where possible, speakers should be sent from Wellington to address the meetings. He thought it should be possible to get men who would give their time and money to travel round New Zealand for that purpose. He for , one was prepared to do it, regarding it as a call to patriotism.': ..' ','■: ~■■■- . " Vj V DEPARTURES FROM NiZ, ..Nine thousand people had left New Zealand in the last four years and they were prosperous years, said Mr. Hunt. If there were any sort of a scare that 9000 might become 90,000. ' J In the discussion which followed mention was made of the opposition j and apathy of the farmers and of some labour unions and the opinion was ex r pressed that few would oppose'the idea of immigration if its benefits were properly explained. The meeting agreed to form itself into a general committee of the Dominion Settlement Association and a number of people were added to the •executive,of the association.