"THE FIRST LINE"

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 89, 12 October 1938, Page 6

"THE FIRST LINE"

MORE POPULATION

.MR. SAVAGE'S SILENCE

The Dominion Settlement Association has addressed a statement to the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, Prime Minister, regarding New Zealand's need of immigrants. Slightly abridged, it is as follows:—

"In May, 1936, speaking to the Navy League you said, 'I am one of those who believe the first line of defence is population.' Then again, 'The only claim to territory is that it shall not remain empty and unused.'

"Prior to your journey to the Imperial Conference in 1937 you stated, 'The building of New Zealand naturally implied the increasing of New Zealand's population. ... It would make it easier to carry on the resources of New Zealand if there was a.bigger population. . . . 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 which is only sparsely populated.' . . . The two chief items set down for consideration at the Imperial Conference were defence and migration, but the official report of the conference ended with the tragic sentence, 'The question of migration was not discussed.'

"Even at this late date we should be much obliged and enlightened if you would tell us why the vital subject of distributing more evenly the peoples of the Empire 'was not discussed.' Was it political expediency that influenced you in not insisting on the consideration of this question, which, according to your admissions (qu6ted above), is so vital to the very existence of our Dominion? If not, what was the reason?

"You are, of course, aware that Britain's population is due,to reach its peak in 1941, and thereafter, oWing to its indicated rapid .decline (from 45,000,000 today to 5,000,000 within the next 100 years), the Mother Country will not only very shortly discourage the migration of her people, but 'will certainly cut out her present offer of financial assistance for transport and settlement. This is doubtless well known to you so that you are fully aware that the possibilities of procuring migrants from Britain is practically a case of 'now or never.'

"Now What we cannot understand, and on which we respectfully ask you to enlighten us, is why you have not taken any steps towards , initiating a stream of British people into this country, knowing as you do how vital such action is to the prosperity and even the continuance of New Zealand as a British country. So far as yfe know not one word of your intentions regarding migration appears in your published or spoken platform.

"In September, 1936, a deputation from the association waited on you and asked for (1) a declaration of policy and (2) a commission or committee to survey the various avenues whereby migrants could be absorbed. Nothing resulted. In February of this year a deputation representing no less than 100,000 citizens repeated the requests, but still not one word as to the policy of your Government had been uttered to either the deputationists or the public.

"What, may we ask, is the use of talking social security if we have not national security? In any case your actuary has doubtless told you that no such scheme as social security, or even the present pension or superannuation funds can exist for more than a few years longer unless a stream of young people are coming into our country to carry the ever-increasing burden of those that are elderly.

"You must also know that a far greater population is vital to provide a local market for our agricultural products now faced with a severely contracting outlet in Britain owing to her falling population. Our secondary industries are doomed to stagnation as indicated in the following extract from the Government Census report, 1936. 'The position is this, that in 1936 the rate of reproduction was insufficient to maintain the population at its 1036 level. From data in hand it is clear that the position in New Zealand is highly critical.' You are also aware that in addition to our falling birthrate, we are losrhg population by reason of the fact that nearly 9000 more people have permanently left New Zealand during the last few years as against those who have taken xip residence here.

"It must be clear to you that the staggering burden of taxation, which 'is largely due to the fact that we are carrying in the form of public utilities, etc., overheads sufficient for five times our present population, can be relieved only by increased population. Property values and the standard of living must inevitably decline as depopulation proceeds.

"Yet, in the face bf all this, you taboo migration as though it were a plague. Notwithstanding your own colleague, the Hon. P. C. Webb, says we could do with 10,000 more carpenters to build homes for the people. The Hon. H. T. Armstrong says that no fit men are now unemployed. Housewives are crying out for domestic help and farmers' . wives and daughters are puddling in . muddy cowyards because no labour is available. You know all this and yet in March last you did not accept the offer of the V.M.C.A. in London to send to New Zealand 200 British boys, carefully selected and partly trained in farm work, who were willing to contract to come to this country—go on to the farms —and stop on the farms. "This association has repeatedly asked from the public platform your reason for this action, but you have never replied. Will you, Mr. Prime Minister, explain to us why this tragedy was enacted? Quite apart from the hardship thus inflicted on our farmers and their families, do you notj see the reactions that will occur in the Mother Country? British boys are keenly sought by other Dominions and, after such a rebuff, this country will have to plead hard, and very probably in vain, for a share of the limited numbers that will in future be available. . .. .

"We give you our absolute assurance that party politics form no part of the activities of this association. Our aims far transcend this. We are forced to thus address you because all our regular methods of approach (even the deputation, representative of 100,000 members) have failed to obtain so far the courtesy of a reply to our representatives. When we believe, as we do, that our position as citizens of the British Empire is in jeopardy, that tl=;e future without a largely increased population offers no opportunity to ourselves or to our children, it niustb be evident that the time has arrived for straight talking." 1