SCOTLAND’S POPULATION.

Evening Star, Issue 21639, 7 February 1934, Page 6

SCOTLAND’S POPULATION.

Feoji time to time the cry of “ Home Rule for Scotland ” is raised in the House of Commons and in Scotland itself, but it is a movement that does not seem to gain much vigour as the years pass. Probably there would be no great opposition at Westminster if it could be demonstrated that the proposal was seriously meant and had a substantial backing. It would imply no disadvantage to the Empire connection, for the Scots are proverbially loyal. There have been no particular complaints of “ injustices,” such as have been so constant elsewhere. The idea among those who advocate Home Rule seems to be that matters of purely Scottish concern should be administered inside the country itself rather than by the British Parliament. The fact that the response to the movement is so slow indicates that the matter is not considered to be one of the gravest importance. There are enough Scots in the House of Commons—even apart from those who represent Scottish constituencies—to see that the integrity of their native country is not assailed. At the moment some concern is being expressed over the loss of population in the country. The outward trek in the last century has been constant, and of all the roads north of the border that which leads to London has been the most popular. The final figures of the census taken in 1931 are now available. They give the population as 4,842,980, showing a decrease of 39,517 compared with 1921. This is the first census by which a decrease of the population of the country is recorded. A striking feature disclosed -> the diminution in the proportion of young persons and a correspondingly increased proportion of old persons in the population. The natural increase of the population of Scotland—excess of. registered births over registered deaths —from 1921 to 1931 was 352,386, and, there being a recorded decrease of 39,517 in the total population, there has been an apparent loss of population by migration amounting to 391,903. It is estimated that about 63,000 people migrated to England in the ten-year period, most of the others having sought new homes in the United States of America and Canada and the other dominions.

Scotland is naturally a poor country, with a somewhat harsh climate. The thrift and industry of the people make the most of the opportunities afforded, but it seems hardly probable that any great augmentation of the population can be expected, even though close attention is being directed to the encouragement of home industries and the development of agriculture on the latest scientific methods. Compared with the other countries in the Kingdom and with most of the States in Western Europe, Scotland is one of the more sparsely populated. It carries only 157 persons per square mile compared with 685 in England and Wales. In one way the diminished number within the borders of the country is a tribute to the' people, lor, rather than sit down to poor conditions in their own country, they have had the grit and enterprise to seek fortune in far-off lands, and have played a significant part in the development of the Empire. Scotland has suffered greatly through the depression, .particularly in her shipping enterprises on the Clyde, and this has had the effect of diminishing the inflow from across the Irish Channel for seasonal occupations. The hex-ring fishing industry, which has been an important source of Britain’s wealth for hundreds of years, has fallen on evil days through the loss of the export markets. In 1913 the total exported was 2,442,000 barrels, while in 1932 it had dropped to 880,000 barrels. It is difficult to see that Home Rule for Scotland would improve the general conditions of the country. From the point of view of convenience it has features that commend it, but in the broad sense the fortunes of the two countries are so entwined that the present system of government seems the most adequate. Repatriation is not likely to help Scotland in the population loss. The Scots at home and abroad have a fervent love of their country, but few who have left it for any length of time have an ardent desire to return to live on their native shove.