W.E.A.

Evening Star, Issue 22722, 9 August 1937, Page 1

W.E.A.

RAILWAY CLASS The meeting of the above class was well attended. A debate on the question, ‘ Whether Assisted Immigration Should Be Resumed in New Zealand?’ had been arranged between the railway class and the economics class, and this debate took the place of the usual lecture. The speakers for the economic class (in favour of assisted immigration) were Messrs E. H. Wilson, 11. Merrilee, and G. and for the railway class Messrs A. E. B. Ward, A. B. Powell, and R. Harrison. Mr E. Wilson, in opening, urged that we should take a wide national view. New Zealand could _ support 10 times her present population. Skilled artisans and fax-m workers could be absorbed. Our roads, railways, harbours, electric power schemes had been planned on the assumption of a growing population. Then 'there was the need for greater numbers for defence, especially in view of the agitation in certain countries for the possession of colonies, •Mr Ward, in opening for the negative, said that until the number of unemployed was down to about 10,000 there should bo no assistance to bring more people here, Retftntly there had been an excess of departures over arrivals, showing that, it would bo futile to assist immigration. Australia and Canada had dropped their schemes of encouraging newcomers. Mr Savage had stated in reply to a question that planned immigration would' be resumed when the economic conditions wei’e suitable. The scheme adopted after the war for spreading the population of the British Empire had been a failure; only about 40.000 a year had gone from Britain to all the Dominions, and only about one-seventh of theso had settled on the land, as had been desired.

Mr Merrilee said that if we did get British immigrants in the near future we should, in time to come, be compelled to accept others. We were at present too dependent on overseas markets for the sale of our goods; if our population were increased we should be more self-reliant and stronger in many ways. Our hydro-electric power and other public works had sufficient potential output for a much larger population, and this meant a largo waste. Our mineral deposits and other resources could be developed if we had more people. America had received immigrants and had found in them not only the means of production, with muss operation, but increased markets also. The taxation burden would be lightened if wo had more to hoar it.- A time of progressing prosperity was the time for immigration. Mr A. B. Powell said there was a prior problem to solve before we should encourage more people to come here.. With the increasing use of machinery the potential output per worker increased, so that unemployment tended to increase. The private ownership of the means of production constituted an obstacle in the way of the full use of the increased potential productive power. If that problem were settled population would flow where it was needed and without hindrance, and immigration would be desirable. There would then he a steadily rising standard of living. The present revival of trade was temporary, and was due to war preparations throughout the world. Voluntary immigration was desirable

and would come if our conditions were right. Mr G. Wilson pointed out the great potentialities of New Zealand. Mr R. Harrison said it was not fair to induce people to come here from the richest country in the world when conditions here for many were those of poverty. A larger population did not necessarily mean increased prosperity, as the conditions in India and Japan indicated. Mr Ward, replying for the negative, pointed out that the ability to absorb more people depended on the stage of development attained. Defence' in these days depended on armaments — not on our having a few millions more people here. Mr E. W. Wilson, in his final reply, contended that the debt per head would be reduced if the population were increased.