In Search of Five Million People

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 38, 15 February 1937, Page 2

In Search of Five Million People

MOVE TO FURTHER MR. SPEAKER’S IDEAS (Special to “Times.”) HASTINGS, Last Night. The movement to set up a New Zealand Five Million Club to cope with the population problem in this Dominion was advanced a stage further last evening when the Hon. W. E. Barnard, M.P., Speaker of the House of Representatives, gave an address on the subject, “The Population of This Domin« ion,” and advocated a carefully-plan-ned immigration scheme. The outcome of his address was that a Hastings branch of the club was set up. There was a good attendance at the public meeting, the Mayor, Air G. A. Maddison, presiding, and the following resolution was carried following Air Barnard’s address: “That this meeting is of the opinion that a branch of, tho New Zealand Five Million Club should be set up to promote the increase of the Dominion's population (a) by method's designed to raise the rate of natural increase in New Zealand and (b) by immigration, with- special reference to planning so as to avoid any social or dhonomic dislocation within the Dominion and to aftercare so that new citizens from abroad may be sooner absorbed in the communal life of New Zealand.” Mr Barnard’s address was similar to that delivered at the public meeting at Napier the previous evening, a full roport of which was published yesterday. He quoted a number of Comments passed by Alinisters of tho Crown to substantiate tho views that ho had put forward, and pointed out that New Zealand was approaching the stage when, instead of there being a natural increase, there would bo a decline. The problem of increasing tho population would then presont a far greater difficulty than it did at present, and ho .Contended -that the time was now opportune for tackling the problem. At tho conclusion of his address Air Barnard was upon to answer a big number of questions, it beiDg obvious that the matter had been exercising the minds of many people. Tho motion wad moved by the Alayor and seconded by Air T. B. Ate* Quire, and the following committee was set up, with power to add to its numbers: Messrs G. E. G. Rogers (convenor), R. B. Arnott, H. Connop, V. Waterman, A. Lowe, W. A. Whitlock, W. E. Bate, Air E. L. Cullen, M.P,. and tho Alayor. A good number of those present intimated their support to the movement by joining up as members of the newly-formed branch, several subscriptions being handed in.