IMPERIAL MIGRATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15122, 12 October 1912, Page 6

IMPERIAL MIGRATION.

The Imperial Trade Commission has devoted its opening sittings to the all-important question of migration. The commercial aspect of this question is not its least important. Much is said of the effect of the fiscal policies of the Overseas Dominions upon trade with the Mother Country, but it cannot be denied that every emigrant from the United Kingdom to the colonies is largely retained as a customer for British goods while every emigrant who goes to a foreign country is practically lost as a customer. From the point of view of the British merchant and manufacturer it is therefore very advisable that migration within the Empire should be encouraged. But the colonies are even more interested in guiding the living stream to make fertile their unpopulated areas and to develop the infant industries of their growing centres. When it is said that Canada could" easily carry 50,000,000 people, Australia as many more, New Zealand 10,000,000 and South Africa an indefinite number, the barest truth is . uttered. The demand for suitable labour in

every British country is insatiable and is likely to continue insatiable now that the European and American worlds are pressing so closely , upon their food supplies and the ceaseless output of gold steadily assists the rise in food prices. One great disadvantage to immigration has been the lack of effective organisation in distributing reliable information as to the varying demands of the, colonial labour markets. Produce market information is regularly and accurately transmitted to all interested centres, but the people of the United Kingdom are not similarly informed of the best place to carry their energies and qualifications. The suggestion of the chairman of the Commission that New Zealand and Australia should cable, monthly, official statements of what classes of labour are required and what are not required is a valuable one. To be. .fully informing these official statements should also contain accurate information as to the cost of living so that intending emigrants may not be misled by too optimistic expectations or daunted by grossly exaggerated misstatements. j. ■