The MANAWATU DAILY Times MONDAY, MARCH 30, 1936. Farm Schools For British Boys

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 75, 30 March 1936, Page 6

The MANAWATU DAILY Times MONDAY, MARCH 30, 1936. Farm Schools For British Boys

Nu greater problem laces the leaders of this Dominion than that of increasing its population rapidly and substantially. There is every advantage to be gained from our having a population three or four times us large as it is at present. A gLeatly enlarged population will confer definite economic advantages to all sections of the community. Our people will, too, more firmly stake their claim to these desirable lands. Without a greatly enlarged population, our claim to a “White New Zealand’' is •definitely in. jeopardy. A larger population would also enable a richer and fuller intellectual and cultural life for the inhabitants. Undoubtcdy, the finest “immigrants” arc those born in our own cradles. Unfortunately, however, those cradles are not so well filled as they were by past generations. It would now appear to be a fact that without immigration our population increase will not be sufficiently rapid. The best immigrants we could secure would be young British-born people. A recent visitor to Flock House was Mr. Gordon Green, secretary of the Fairbridge Farm Schools scheme. This organisation gives to selected boys and girls of Britain a start in the Dominions overseas. One school is on Vancouver Island, Canada, and another is in Western Australia. Arrangements are now in train to establish schools in Victoria and New South Wales. It is desired to establish one in. New Zealand. Mr. Green, interviewed by the “Times,” stated that “there is room for at least one in every State or province within the Dominions of the Empire.” Before going on to Canada, Mr. Green will confer with New Zealand Government officials as to the encouragement that would be given to the establishment of a school in this Dominion. It is sincerely to be hoped that the proposal will be given every encouragement. The late Government was rather disinclined towards immigration, understandable perhaps in the depression period, although of very doubtful wisdom even so. As showing the possibilities of such an institution, it may be mentioned H n t the Western Australian school, founded in 1912, lias now 450 children in residence. Such youth migration should not be our only measure to gain population, but it is a very sound movement in the right direction.