MIGRATION FROM BRITAIN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 5 July 1943, Page 3

MIGRATION FROM BRITAIN

I SETTLEMENT IN NEW ZEALAND LETTER FROM SIR CLUTIIA MACKENZIE The view that, unless New Zealand increases its population to somewhere near its human carrying capacity, it cannot long remain a white British country is expressed in a letter to the chairman of the Dominion Settlement Association Mr A. Leigh Hunt, by Sir Clutha Mackenzie who is at present holding an official position at Simla. “How I wish our Government would do something about it” he says. “Why can’t we see that big migration of sound stock is productive of such internal activity that everyone will be absorbed in the constantly expanding briskness of internal trade? Why aren’t we capable of handling things in a big way. instead of just footling along with such limited numbers? I wish I was in New Zealand to discuss the question with the Labour unions for I think it is they in particular who have got fallacious notions into their heads—still the primitive idea that, if a plumber comes from Britain a New Zealand phimber may be done out of his job. “I have always held the view that, unless we step up our population to ; somewhere near its reasonable human carrying capacity New Zealand cannot long remain a white British country. We hold that a land, owner who does not sufficiently break in; and farm his country is failing in his j public duty. Crowded east and, south Asia, not to mention the Con-' tinent of Europe, take the same view! of Australia and New Zealand. “During my work in this war in! India, Burma and Malaya ;I have lived with men who carry the burden of government, with diplomats,! consuls, experts in the political and trade life of specific areas, Press correspondents, business men, missionaries, university men—British, Dutch, Chinese, French, American, and so on; and none of my growing knowledge leads me to modify that old CHANGES IN PACIFIC Sir Clutha forecasts tremendous! changes in the Pacific in the coming! half-century, the growth of power-! ful peoples and the continued annihilation of distance, and, maybe, a! new virility. China is not, he says,* going to contnue in the old way. When' she follows Japan in modern European and American organisation of industry, and before falling birth i rate balances lowered mortality, rates, she will find her people developing the same internal pressures; and external economic needs which j drove Japan to the path of war. “The desire of British servicemen j to go to New Zealand is simply in-! credible,” says Sir Clutha. Though: a little article of his was published last November, he still receives mail! week after week and wherever he travels people wish to talk about it.. “They are, of course, a magnificent crowd,” declares Sir Clutha. “The' best of British stock, young, and vigorous, including many , who, with wives and' families, want to retire there on pensions. It saddens me, that I can do nothing about it—or next to nothing, for I have definitely turned the thoughts of many to I New Zealand, and some will go pri-| vately.”

Given any organisation, public or; private with Government co-opera- i tion, states Sir Clutha, and. at least 1 250,000 could be recruited from the; British forces in India, Britain, and! elsewhere.