DRIFT TO CITIES

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 December 1928, Page 2

DRIFT TO CITIES

A HEALTHY SIGN. “I decline to be alarmed at the drift to the cities. It is a cheerful sign, and I would be alarmed if the reverse were the case,” said Professor A. G. Fisher, Professor of Economics at Otago University, in a lecture on “The Bogey of Urban Drift” to the Economic Society. The lecturer said that while he had not read all the speeches of about two hundred candidates at the recent general election, he was aware that although they differed on almost everything else, there was almost complete unanimity in deploring • the drift to the towns. The thesis he would attempt to defend was that the movement was inevitable, desirable, and a proof that economic progress was continuing in New Zealand. Blame for the tendency had been laid on the shoulder of the Hon. A. D. M’Leod, and on the Arbitration Court, and the lure of the city. Others had said the moral fibre of the younger generation had not the strength and quality of that of the pioneers. None came near the mark.

This proportionate movement of population was world-wide. It persisted in Great Britain as in Germany, in the United States as in Canada, South Africa, Russia, ami India. Common discussion on the matter introduced many side issues, such as organisation of city life, specialisation in trades, and unemployment, but the real question was what proportion of the people should be engaged in farming compared with those in other pursuits. It altered as the nation grew and as conditions of production ami industry changed. New Zealand growth was likened by the lecturer to the improving situation of Robinson Crusoe. The castaway at first spent 100 per cent, of his time on securing and producing food. Later, when he was better provided, naturally he spent less effort in that way and more in obtaining- better shelter and clothing, in making implements and amusing himself. So it was with the nation, with New Zealand. It was economically sound that as little time and energy as possible should be spent in providing foodstuffs ami raw material, consistent with the general needs and the intellectual and economic progress of the people.

Wherever there was too small a proportion of people engaged in any one occupation their services were in greater demand and their remuneration became higher. The farmer, while not nearly so badly off as many would have one believe, protested that his returns were not large enough. It. appeared, therefore, that, there were for the time being sufficient people on Hie land for the needs of I lie country, and ho failed utterly to see why the farmer, of all sections of the community, should cry out against, the drift, to the city, when more among his numbers would increase competition Io his detriment. It was regrettable that, when there were so many grave problems for solution, so many people should concern themselves about something that was inevitable and desirable.