Nelson Evening Mail WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1923 ENCOURAGE RURAL SETTLEMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 28 March 1923, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1923 ENCOURAGE RURAL SETTLEMENT

THE last Commonwealth census showed that out of a population of 5,436,000 there were 2,338,000 living in tiro six capitals of the various States. In New South Wales 42.89 per cent, of the population lived in Sydney; Melbourne had 50.09 per gent, of the population of Victoria; Adelaide 51.63 per cent, of South Australia; Perth 47.04 per cent, of Western Australia; Brisbane 27.80 per cent, and Ilohaft 24.54 per cent. These, unhealthy figures have long been an object lesson to the world, hut it is only the fact that in the Australian States the population has been concentrated very largely into one city that has emphasised the evil of the growth of cities as against the 'rural population. It is upon its production that a State depends for its prosperity and unless the primary industries are encouraged there is always a danger of the State becoming topheavy. It is the commodities produced in the country that provide the basis of the city’s prosperity. And it is perfectly clear that the only sound course for any country to adopt is to encourage rural settlement by every means in its power. It is useless endeavouring to discourage the growth of cities hv any other means. There are many ways in which country life can he made more attractive; by [providing better means of communication, educational facilities, mechanical power, and last hut not least, facilities ! for pleasant recreation more closely api proximating the advantages obtainable |in the cities. How many people who take up land in the country have to live very unattractive lives ! -they have none or at any rate only few of the amenities of modern civilisation. While it is hopeless to expect conditions in the country in the way of social amenities to closely approximate those in the cities, there is no doubt whatever a great deal could be done to make the conditions in the country very much more attractive. In New Zealand, according to the last census, the fifteen urban areas, districts specially ci catcd for population and vital statistics purposes and each comprising a city or large town with its suburban boroughs and a considerable area of contiguous non municipalised country, have an aggiegate population of 681,988, or 56 per cent, of the total population of the Dominion. All the people in these areas have the advantages of city life within {heir reach, and the land is closely settled. Cannot the area of such facilities be further extended? This means greater means of communication, and as many of the other facilities for the interest and comfort of life as possible. It is in tho encouragement of this -settlement that the main activities of tho Government should lie.