BRITISH BOYS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 3 October 1944, Page 4

BRITISH BOYS

SALVATION ARMY PLAN PRACTICAL IMMIGRATION SCHEME Wellington, Oct. 1. “As a first small but practical step toward solution of New Zealand’s grave population problem the Salvation Army has prepared plans to bring out from Britain to the Dominion 50 boys between the ages of 10 and 17 years.” said Commissioner J. Evan Smith, on Saturday. The present situation presented a plain challenge, he said. Either New Zealand must fill up its empty space* with sufficient European people propei - ly to exploit its rich resources, or, within a few years, the demands of eastern peoples for breathing space would become so insistent that they would have to be admitted. Practically on our doorstep were Japan's 100.000.000, China’s 500.000.000 and India’s 400.000.000, while Australia and New Zealand together had a population of only 9,000 - 000. Quite apart from the danger of invasion. peaceful or otherwise, by coloured nations, the present trend toward a declining population, if unchecked, could. lead only to disaster for New Zealand. A country was prosperous only insofar as it produced, and production, in the final analysis, depended on population. There was evidence that, in spite of difficulties, immigrants could still be obtained if prompt action were taken. General G. Carpenter, London, international leader of the Salvation Army, had stated in a recent letter to the commissioner: “I can tell you from practical knowledge that there is a growing interest in emigration, an interest of some magnitude, among young people here, both in and out of the fighting services; but the urge will have to come from the overseas Dominions rather than from the Home country.” “I have written to tbe Prime Minister outlining the scheme and asking whether the Government would have any objection to it,” said Commissioner Smith. “So far I have received only an acknowledgment of my letter, and am eagerly awaiting an answer.” The latest project, he added, had the. hearty backing of the directors of the Wellington Rotary Club, and the approval of the Dominion Settlement and Population Association. Though it provided for only a small number of boys, it was, at least, a step in the right direction. If it proved acceptable to the Government and the country generally and was carried through successfully, further and larger groups of boys would be brought out. There was almost unlimited scope for such work, in view of the fact that New Zealand, with a population of only 1,600,000. could well support 10,000,000.