POPULATION

Grey River Argus, 14 August 1937, Page 6

POPULATION

DOMINION’S NEED. WELLINGTON, August 12. New Zealand needed more population for various reasons, the Hon W. E. Barnard, Speaker of the House ot Representatives, told members of the Wellington Rotary Club and two problems would have to be faced in the future. These were the securing of population from overseas and an increase in the birth-rate. Both were important, and the former was of little use if the birth-rate continued to decline.

Most people would agree that more population was needed in New Zealand, said Mr. Barnard, and all knew that no matter how many immigrants might be brought in, if the natural increase continued to decline the country would still have a problem. Europe trebled its population in one hundred years, and at the same time North America had increased its population greatly. In sixty years New Zealand had quadrupled its population, and from 1906 to 1930 an average of 6600 immigrants a year had come into the country. That had been done without planning, and it was obvious that a very much larger number could be absorbed undei' properly planned migration.

New Zealand could not hope to go on depending on the export of primary products, Mr. Barnard said. The , Prime Minister was right when he) said that there must be an expansion of secondary industries in the Dominion. On present indications the population of Great Britain would decline in the future, consequently New Zealand could not expect to send increased exports there. New Zealand would have to bring the British consumer to New Zealand, where ho could eat New Zealand products and manufacture the articles at present imported from overseas. In the past New Zealand had concentrated on the production of .? limited number of things, and a longrange policy of national development was needed. But if the country was developed, more population would be needed. Professor Betshaw, speaking at Auckland, had said that 10.000 immigrants a year to New Zealand would not help in a defence policy but every 10,000 would have 2000 or 3,000 fit men and they would improve the defensive position of the country. New Zealand had already attracted a small percentage of immigrants from Europe, and they had made good citizens. The country would be 'all the better off for selected foreign immigants. According to the Government Statistician, the optimum or maximum population of the country could not be calculated, and if that was so the position should be investigated. It it could be shown that New Zealand could absorb a certain number of persons every year that would be of value. The Five Million Club, of which he was sponsor, was investigating the question, and he hoped practical policies on both immigration and natural increase would be formulated. In conclusion, Mr. Barnard said the Empire would be safer if its population were better distributed. If New Zealand had a population of 5,000,000 the country could be defended against all-comers and economic life of the country would be more stable. Public works policies of the past and present and the burden, of national debt"

would be justified and lightened Twenty years and more ago tens of thousands of New Zealanders had made a great sacrifice for their country, and the people of to-day and of the future should be prepared to make sacrifices Io enable Ihe country to be handed on to future New Zealanders,