South African Trade Asks Aid for Immigration

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 152, 29 June 1937, Page 5

South African Trade Asks Aid for Immigration

JOHANNESBURG. The South African Government is being urged by the Associated Chambers of Commerce in. the Union to encourage immigration from the countries from which South Africa’s white population mainly originates. This country it is pointed out, has need of and could support a bigger white population. The employment of Europeans in the gold-mining industry has increased during recent years by more than half, and in other enterprises figures showed that there has been an increase of S 7 per cent. Immigration could now be considered on an economic basis, rather than on sectional lines. A European population of 10,000,000 would not be excessive, it is claimed, and anything less than 5,000,000 would be small. At the present rate of increase, however, it is calculated that in 19G0 the white population of the Union will be 3,000,000 and in 50 years still less than 4,500,000. Half a million immigrants, it is suggested could be spread over 50 years at tho rate of 10,000 a year, and at the end of that time the population would not be likely to exceed 5,000,000. Immigration on such a scale, it is estimated, would cost about £500,000 a year, including tho passage money and a guarantee of subsistence. She was paying her first visit to a cousin who Jived in the country. He met her at the station, and after a drive of about half an hour he told her that they wero approaching his 1 In one of the fields that met the girl'si attentive eye stood a windmill, and gathered about it were several pigs. “Well, I’m surjirised!" she exclaimed. 4 ‘l didn’t know farmers were so considerate." “What do you mean?" asked her cousin. “That over yonder," replied the girl. “Just think of having a fan in the field 1 to keep those pigs cool."