Manawatu Daily Times TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1925. Britain’s Future.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2298, 17 November 1925, Page 6

Manawatu Daily Times TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1925. Britain’s Future.

When a prominent and patriotic Englishman finds it necessary to answer the startling question Is Britain Done?” there would seem to be some ground for pessimism. Naturally Sir Philip Gibbs did not have the discussion all to himself. Another author in Mr John Galsworthy took up the theme and in an article in the Sunday “Times” points out that England can hardly look to Europe to regain her lost markets He says: “The first fact to face ‘is that the standard of living cannot be lowered nor wages decreased to enable us to regain the full European markets. It is a tragic mistake to think that they can. It follows that our hope lies outside Europe, in the markets of countries where our own standards of wages and living prevail; in other words, in the Americas and more especially that new world which we still oddly call the British Empire, but which is really the British Commonwealth of Nations, whose demands at present do not unfortunately nearly equal the Mother Country’s power of supply.” He has two suggestions to make, one being offered as a means of encouraging the growing of wheat in Britain. “The first ia the expansion of emigration to the Dominions, but with a frank recognition of the fact that the Dominions will not accept spoiled material. By all means let us continue to send out as many adults as we can. But the English adult, in the main is spoiled for this adventure by town life: and the few still on the land we cannot spare. That leaves children. The English child is magnificent material. The big brother movement, Dr Barnardo’s and other small schemes of child emigration have shown the way ■ —there is nothing new in the principle. But why should we not make it a national policy, and aim at transferring every, year some 200,000 boys

and girls between the ages of 14 and 18 to those great countries who are panting for population, but quite rightly want It good?" Young British Migrants. Expounding his idea of the mlgra tion of young people, Mr Galsworthy says;—"ln seven to ten years (for the first two years would go In propaganda equipment and experiment) this policy, carried out with loyal cooperation between all parties here and the Dominion Governments and peoples, would reduce our unemployment to pre-war rate, at least, and pay for itself in the saving of dole. Within 20 years the trade demand from the Dominions would equal out

supplying power and free us completely from dependence on European markets and the racial unity of the British Commonwealth of nations would be assured. I can hear the howl which will go up at the thought of such Wholesale benefiting of our young. . . . Well, of course, this thing can’t be done unless it is so well done that it is manifestly for the children’s good. Further, this thing cannot be done unless the people and Governments of the Dominions welcome the. scheme and bem their energies and good will to ensure the children’s fortunes. But since it ,1s the very thing the Dominions need it Is not at all likely to be rejected.”