Empire Migration

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 7 October 1936, Page 11

Empire Migration

BETTER DISTRIBUTION OF POPULATION “DOMINIONS MUST EXPAND OR GO UNDER” DISCUSSION AT EMPIRE CONGRESS

“The Dominions must expand or go under,’’ said Mr J. E. Emlyn-Jones (Cardiff) at the Empire Congress of Chambers of Commerce when moving a remit urging an Empire migration scheme for the better distribution of population. Great Britain could supply suitable families, he said, but the question of immigration was an urgent one because the time might come when a surplus population was not available.

Mr Emlyn-Jones-moved:— V “Realising that a balanced distribution of population within the borders of the Empire is essential to the continued welfare and security of the British peoples, and that the early attainment of that balance is necessary to ensure freedom from aggression, and having in mind the existence of vast and sparsely-populated territories owing allegiance tc the British Crown, as also the fact that in years past many millions of peoplt have left Great Britain and settled in countries outside the British Empire, this Congress affirms the- vital importance of the early reinforcement of the populations of the overseas Dominions by organised and substantial migration from Great Britain, and recommends, inter alia, the following conditions: —

and the colonies could supply them with land and work, and they would help to consume what was produced. The population of the colonies had been concentrating in the larger cities. Australia boasted of the population of Sydney and Aucklanders boasted that one-third of New Zealand’s population was in Auckland, but that was nothing to boast about. If the population of the Dominion had not been ill-balanced twice as many people would probably have been settled overseas. The Dominions _ had wide fertile spaces and they would have to expand or go under. Great Britain had an unemployment problem that was exercising the minds of thousands of men. In the ranks of those men there were families who would be an asset to any country. The colonies had asked for the cream of Britain’s farm labour but Britain had not got farm labour to spare. Britain did not want to send her “old crocks” to the colonies but the young men who were anxious to go out and make a new home.

(1) That those selected shall be of types suitable to exploit the opportunities afforded in the respective Dominions. (2) That the costs of transit and of settlement shall be equitably apportioned between Great Britain and the respective Don imons. (3) That the settlement of such immigrants as choose primary industries shall be arranged with a view to avoidance of those factors which have caused partial or complete failure in the past. (4) That the increased production in the Dominions resulting from the migration should, so far as is practicable, be absorbed by the acceptance by Great Britain of an increasing proportion of the primary produce of the Dominions.

COMMUNAL LIFE Mr Emlyn-Jones said that they wanted the new settlers to continue the communal life they had built up in the new land. The importance of this was shown in Wales, where the enthusiasm of the people for their arts and literature had saved the soul of Wales during the depression. There was no need to worry about future markets. In a world in which the need for raw materials and foodstuffs was expanding there was room for the expansion of production in the Dominions. “We have to decide here and now, it is a case of now or never,” said Mr Emlyn-Jones. “Unless we move rapidly Great Britain will soon have no surplus population to send to you. The population of Great Britain is starting to decrease.” It has been estimated that in 100 years the population of Great Britain would be no more than 5,000.000 or 6,000,000 people. He did not say that those figures were correct, but there was no doubt that the decrease would be cumulative. At the present time Great Britain could send out a good type of settler, and the Mother Country and the Dominions could no doubt come to some agreement on the cost. Migration would transform the life of the British Empire and write another chapter of glorious achievements. Mr R. M. Clark (Sydney) said that the future of the Empire was dependent on an adequate flow of migrants from the United Kingdom to the Dominions. Britain had a greater population than v/as economically or socially sound at the present time, while the other parts of the Empire were in vital need of new peoples. He did not agree with the theory that migration created unemployment. One immigrant might mean an additional man out of work, but the migration of 10,000 people would create more work than could be done. Australia’s greatest periods of prosperity had coincided with the greatest influxes of immigrants, and in these periods also she had made her greatest purchases from Great Britain.

“And this Congress further recommends that the Governments should co-operate in arranging schemes, to ‘ensure that ary surplus population leaving Great Britain should settle within the Empire.”

EMPIRE INFLUENCE Mr Emlyn-Jones said that he was convinced that the British Empire properly used and peopled could be a most beneficent influence in the world. He had been in New Zealand for nine days and he had not met anyone opposed to increased population by immigration. Everyone in New Zealand and Australia appeared satisfied that a stream of migration was necessary to the future. It had been said that New Zealand needed a population of 5,000,000 and if that figure was to be reached there would have to be an acceleration of immigration. Immigration into New Zealand had declined and he believed that decline was due to an ill-balanced economy. New Zealand had an army of unemployed and did not want more population as a result. The unemployed might be absorbed by a building programme or some other device, but that would reach saturation in time. The unemployed could only be absorbed permanently by increasing the wealth of the country and the only way to do that was to put more people on the land from which the wealth came. Immigration had been stopped because of over production and maldistribution. England could supply the labour

Mr Clark said the population of the British Dominions was 20,000,000, and these people consumed 47 per cent, of Britain’s products. If that Dominion population were doubled the demand on Britain’s products weald provide for a larger population there, and would lead to greater security within the Empire.

A DIFFICULT PROBLEM Mr H. McD. Russell (Brisbane) said he considered that immigration was the most difficult problem facing the Empire tc-day. They might get further if they dropped the words “immigration” and “migration and talked about the development of the Empire. He did not agree that the colonies should merely produce from the land while Britain manufactured. A balanced economy was necessary m the Dominions, and delegates should not be carried away by talk of ‘ vast empty spaces.” Australia was ceitainlv vast, but much of the country was so dry that it must remain empty If the population was to be increased to any great extent secondary industries would have to be developed while closer settlement was brought about. . There was strong objection to >mm.°ration in some sections of public life hi Australia, but their hands would have to be forced. If Australians said thev would not have immigrants, the time would come when they woulc: receive immigrants they did no l want. If Australia did not accept immigrants her nonulation would decrease, so u was "of utmost importance that those who opposed immigration should be forced to see the true facts of tne position. Australia was already short of domestic servants and artisans. There were therefore some avenues that could be exploited by Britain s surplus population. There were vast areas of land in Queensland that could be opened up if capital were available, and settlers cf the right sort should be encouraged to the utmost degree. Sir Montague Burton (Leeds) said that contingents of migrants should be regarded as an asset and not a liability. He agreed with Mr EmlynJones that now was the time to act because the opportunity might pass away if there was undue delay. Mr E. Stanley Leatherby (Plymouth) said he represented the fishermen of England. He reminded the delegates that there would have been no All-Red Route, which they were so anxious to maintain, if it had not been for the fact that when the Great War broke out and the call came the fishermen of England laid aside their nets and went down to the sea in ships. (Applause). The fishermen of England were dead up against it, and he came to the congress to see if this great Dominion could find room for some of those men. Emphasis had been laid over and over again upon the fact that Britain should pay, but one should remember it was not altogether a one-sided bargain. “I don’t want you gentlemen to forget this,” continued Mr Leatherby, “that we have a neighbour in Europe who has his own special way of colonisation, and he does it at the point of the bayonet. With the aid of the sword he tries to find room for his people. That is his excuse, but he can have no excuse if he finds that the children and daughters of Great Britain have opened their arms to the best type of men from Home. We appeal to you to help us. The fact that this has failed before is no reason why it should fail now.

“The Empire has been built up by men who have gone on and on until they met with success. In a spirit of goodwill we believe we can succeed where others have failed. England can send you some of its brightest and best, and, believe me, from wliat I know of the people at Home, they will serve you right loyally and well.” (Applause). Mr J. T. Martin (Wellington) said it had been estimated that New Zealand had a carrying capacity of from five to ten millions. Its birth-rate was declining, and during the last four years departures overseas had been at the rate of 2813 annually. New Zealand’s natural increase to-day was estimated at 12,000 annually. It had been stated that New Zealand’s population of 1,500,000 would by 1946 be only 1,600,000.

VALUE OF PROPAGANDA New Zealand was just emerging from the greatest depression in its history. The trouble had not been confined to the farmers. The cities and industries had been just as much depressed.

“Conditions now are changing. We are emerging from the depression. Many people here still object to the suggestion of resuming immigration, but we realise that we will overcome that in time by propaganda,” Mr Martin continued. '

Referring to the scheme for the immigration of domestics, Mr Martin said it had been stated New Zealand could easily absorb 3000 domestics who had had some experience in domestic work. THE PRESIDENT SPEAKS The president, Lord Elibank, said he considered that the subject was of vital importance not only to the Empire—to every part of it —but also to the whole world. He found himself in entire agreement with Mr EmlynJones, and also with Mr Leatherby, who put his finger on the pulse of one of the most serious reasons why they had to consider the subject that day. There was what one might call a land hunger in the world which was finding expression in different ways. In Italy they had gone out and taken what they wanted. In Germany every few weeks one heard demands for the return of colonies and mandated territories, and in both countries they were going on increasing their populations by, command of the dictators who ruled their fates, and they were building huge armies and increasing armaments, with only one object, as far as one could see.

That being so, was it extraordinary that those people who were determined to expand should turn their eyes to the vast unpeopled and fertile spaces in our colonies and Dominions capable of containing many millions of white inhabitants?

So when the congress was considering the subject of turning the stream of British migration into our Dominions, it could not only view it from the noint of view of building up our own Empire and providing an outlet for our own people, but it had to consider it from the world point of view as well. He believed it would pay Britain to export capital to enable migrants to set up homes in the country to which they were going. On the other hand, naturally, one would expect the Dominions to give certain concessions in the way of cheap land, but the main capital should be exported from the Old Country. He

believed that was an essential, and not only an essential, but a good business proposition. (Applause). Lord Elibank added that it was also essential if they were going to export their capital, whether it be with the migrants or whether it be by further enterprise in the countries to which they were sending those people, that that capital must receive proper consideration when it arrived in the Dominions.

If there was to be legislation which would restrict capital, which would tax it out of existence, or would do anything to make trade impossible or so handicap it that it could not conduct its enterprise under proper conditions, then he felt convinced that very little capital would go out of the Old Country into such a Dominion, and that it would go elsewhere.

I-Ie felt also that in considering schemes of migration they should consider whether the migrants would get the best deal, and whether the capital which was going to follow the migrants would get the best deal also, and he said that in no offensive spirit.

ADMITTING FOREIGNERS “It may be, and this rests with the Governments themselves,” said Lord Elibank, “that the Dominions may have to consider taking people from some of the best parts of Europe m order to make up the deficiency which the United Kingdom may not be able to meet. I for one would not in any way depreciate an action of that kind on the part of any Dominion. I should certainly say that the British migrant must come first, but that if it is necessary to make up further migiation from a good source outside the Empire, f do not see how any good Britisher could view that with any degree of alarm. After all. in our own country—Great Britain —we cannot claim to be an entirely unmixed race, and if we go to other countries we find the same. I do not suggest for a moment that we should emulate + be United States of America, which receives migrants in thousands, pouring them into a central pool until even now it has not assimilated them into one big home.” Mr A. G. Lunn (Auckland) said New Zealand realised that the crowded nations of Europe and Japan were looking with envious eyes to countries sparsely populated. They must be prepared not only with armaments, but also with the best armaments a country could have, a virile, strong population. Sir Lewis Lougher (Cqrdiff) said it was very rarely that he found himself in agreement with the views expressed on policy questions by his friend, Mr Emlyn-Jones. but this time he was in complete agreement with the resolution which Mr Emlyn-Jones had moved so ably and eloquently. Sir Lewis said he had been very much impressed by the necessity for some thing being done by increasing the population of the Dominions to increase their strength for defence. He thought the day had arrived when some scheme of co-operation between the Home Government and the Governments of the Dominions should be set in motion.

Mr W. R. Fee (Auckland) said that if New Zealand was to remain a pri-mary-producing country only, it could not absorb any large number of migrants, and must for ever remain a small country, thereby remaining a target for enemy aggression. On the other hand, if New Zealand wished to increase its population and develop industrially to an extent that employment would be available for an increased population. “We need your people, but when they put their trust in this country we are under a solemn obligation to see that they are not disappointed when they set out on the great adventure of leaving their homeland and seeking a new life in a new country.” Mr G. D. Virtue (Perth) said that so long as they had a falling birth-rate in the colonies it was not a question of considering immigration in a few years’ time; they must deal with it immediately. The Dominions, he agreed, must consider not only British immigrants, but also selected immigrants from other European countries.

THE PIONEERING SPIRIT “The economic side of this problem should be given some consideration,” said Mr W. Mansfield (London.) It seemed to him very important that if they wished to populate vacant spaces they must get people who wanted to go rather than those who were selected to go. The pioneers were not selected. They chose to go. Mr Mansfield objected to the assertion in the motion that many millions of people had left Great Britain and settled in countries outside the British Empire. The facts of the case were, he said, that from 1913 to 1933, 540,000 went to foreign countries. “Many millions” would cover a great many centuries. At the suggestion of Sir Thomas VVilford, chairman of the council, who was presiding at the time, congress decided to delete the words “millions of.”

Mr George Groom (Innisfail, Australia), said that if there was one thing which had to be borne in mind it was the fact that the British migrant must come to Australia before that of any other country. Nobody would deny that one of the greatest problems facing the Australian Commonwealth Government to-day was the Italian colony in northern Queensland. When Italy conquered Abyssinia Italian colonists in northern Queensland living under the Union Jack celebrated the victory under the Italian flag. “If you are going to admit migrants from other parts of Europe I say you must allocate those migrants as evenly as you possibly can throughout the Whole community, otherwise we shall have within our own Empire colonies created by other nations, which is the very objective some countries are setting out to attain to-day,” he said. It had been stated, Mr Groom added, that the big migration scheme in Australia had failed, but, as any delegate from Western Australia would tell the congress, it failed for no other reason than that of political ineptitude and inadequate administration. It had been proved definitely that the areas should be developed. “It is essential,” said Mr Groom, “that this subject should be tackled in a bold and comprehensive way. I say definitely that the Dominions must go on, or they will go under, and if the Dominions go under the United Kingdom will go under also.” The remit was carried unanimously, and amidst applause.