POPULATION

Grey River Argus, 12 April 1928, Page 5

POPULATION

AND SUBSISTENCE Starvation Bogey LAID BY STATISTICIAN. (Sun Cable.) (Received April 1 1 at 1 1.15 p.m.) LONDON, April 11. A terrifying picture of the human race dying of starvation in lhe near future is conjured up in some statistics published today, in connection with which is stated: The earth’s population has increased by one hundred millions in the last fifteen years.’’ The prophets of doom base their calcu lations on, firstly, the possibilities of increasing population to an unlimited extent; secondly, the belief that the cultivatable surfaces of globe is strictly limited, and that, excluding wars,; famines and pestilences, it is just a matter of simple arithmetic to prove that mankind might crowd the whole planet within a measurable period. Although the increase of population proceeds far slower than is potentially possible, it is nevertheless continuous. Some say that we are already near the limit of production, ami that the possibilities of extending the food producing areas arc now practically exhausted.

Sir Henry Row', former ex Government Statistician, however, reassuringly asserts that these forecasters of early starvation have based their calculations on terms of whear. They have overlooked the fact that fourfifths of he world’s population depend on other kinds of food than wheat. Thirty years ago. Sir Henry Row says the President of the British Association, declared that practically there was no more land available for wheat in the world; and yet within one decade fifty million acres in wheat were added, and there have been further additions since then. None of the vast wheat-exporting countries, such as Canada, the United States, the Argonline. Australia. Russia amt India (they ranking in this order) have yet util ised all their land suitable lor cropping. , The American, Professor Russell Smith contends that Hie United States and Canada are good for an increase of probably one billion bushels, qt wheat per ve.-ir, while the only limit |„ Siberia, says Sir 11. Row, is drought. Only lea per cent, of Australia’s area is yet Utilised, while ninelytwo per cent, of Chili is not utilise.!. If it came t<> a pinch. Sir 11. Row

s'ivs, mankind would purify the tropics of their deadly fevers and clear the f,„- win nt growing. Mankind would also irrigate the whole ol llm ( „„ 111( ent of Australia before it would sit down 1 1 ■ starvi*.