Asia’s Problem of Population

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7241, 22 August 1933, Page 7

Asia’s Problem of Population

Pacific Relations Conference Discussion IMMIGRATION NOT THE SOLUTION United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Received Alonday, 5.5 p.m. BANFF (Alberta), Aug. 20. Outlets for tho excess population in China and Japan are so pressing, and the struggle between Great Britain and Japan for markets for their cotton industry havo so increased, that the conference of tho Instituto of Pacific Relations decided to spend at least another two days considering them. In a session of a week four roundtable meetings have been hold daily to consider the causes of possible strife among the nations bordering the Pacific. Attention has also been given to possiblo methods of removing friction, but so vital has boon the discussion on excess population and of the textile industry between Britain and Japan, that the question of control or remedies is still largely to be dealt with. That the Japanese people arc bearing children at what may be termed tho Oriental birth-rate, and tho number of deaths is approaching tho Occidental death-rate, so that tho growth of population is almost limitless, is the proposition Professor Taijiro Uyeda, of Tokio University of Commerce, submits to tho conference. The population of Japan is now about 00,000,000 and would reach 105,000,000 by 1965 if tho birth-rate of five years ago was maintained. That rate, however, Professor Uyeda said, would not bo maintained, mainly becauso industrialisation and education invariably lead to birth control. The number of births had been almost stationary in the last four years, while the child-bearing group ’had increased, the inference being that birth control was being practised. Professor Uyeda declares that the population of Japan will never roach 100.000,000, but will stop at 80,000,000. Alembcrs of the Japanese group state that immigration is not regarded as the solution of tho population problem. They say comparatively few Japanese emigrate because other climates and other social conditions aro unsuitable. On tho other hand, tho Chinese delegates aro urging strongly that they must have room for their increasing population and that no barrier be thrown up at Alanchuria’s borders to keep out tlicir people.