THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 1920. RESUMING IMMIGRATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17371, 19 January 1920, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 1920. RESUMING IMMIGRATION.

The Prim© ; Minister's latest statement on immigration is reassuring in so far as it indicates that the resumption of pre-war activities is now within sight.. The transport of soldiers has been practically completed and the next duty of the Government is to return to their homes New Zealanders who have undertaken various kinds of war service. As Mr. Massey places their number at the unexpectedly high figure of 3000, it is apparent that British emigrants, who have next claim on shipping, must still wait a little longer. The Prime Minister is, however, able to add the very satisfactory information that 2400 emigrants of all classes are ready to sail. This is a start, and a very promising start, but it is no more than a skirt. During the nine years, 1905 to 1913 inclusive, tho Dominion received an annual average of 8600 immigrants. This stream began to dwindle at the outbreak of i hostilities' and during the past three years it has practically failed altogether. If, therefore, the Government wishes to restore New Zealand to the full economic vitality she would have enjoyed but for the war, its task is to place immigration on its old basis and to make good the accumulated arrears. The aim for this year should be,something like 35,000 immigrants. The boom year of Imperial emigration will be 1920. By next year a considerable decline in emigration from Britain may be anticipated and if New Zealand misses the opportunity of enriching herself with the most vital assets a country can possess, the other Dominions will profit at her expense. Viewed from another angle the immigration policy of the Government should be even more ambitious. New Zealand's relative loss in population on account of the war is not confined to immigrants. Of her own sons over 16,000 fell on the field of battle and so many thousands were maimed as to depreciate her effective manpower by an additional 15,000. From all causes the population of the Dominion is at least 50,000 below the figure to which normal peace-time I expansion wo/ild have carried it this

year. |? Unless ; that loss is made good by. a rising birth-rate or by immigration .the war will have left ; an ; indelible mark jon our ' national : progress.' , i ;: ! It is hardly to be expected that in the most/ favourable circumstances immigration ; 'will ".- reach the 'level .which these figures suggest.. The j statistics are , educed r rather to em- j phasisc the vast' importance of „ the i subject than to ~ set a practicable standard. , The [ Government ; may,) safely act on the assumption that there is ample room in New/Zealand ; for all the immigrants it can procure. | It can also i confidently assume that | | immigration : may \ proceed at the greatest' possible '•'speed without in any way disturbing the labour j market. New Zealand is ■ hungry for j | population. Outside the principal | centres of population there is illimitable work = for .willing hands. I Thousiinds of able-bodied men are needed for road-making and railway I construction, while more and yet I more , men % ;and' women can ;be i absorbed .-.in; the primary, industries. j The cities, though they draw humanity to their crowded streets as 'M magnet - attracts ■; steel, present ; : no 1 problem t\of 1 unemployment, ■:■., and j only the /superficially attractive j occupations are fully stocked. The in; i us trial ■■ and "k the |home ' life of ■ the cities ?is equally threatened by a I shortage of female workers. v Queen Street,' Eemuera,! and i the ■ Urewera Country present dissimilar but typical examples of New Zealand's need ; of population, -a need which will not bo perceptibly diminished until the 2400 vimmigrants who comprise Mr. Massey's* advanc* guard are followed by tens of thousands. 'The Prime Minister leaves the inference that the immigrants who are waiting to sail have - been ■ nominated - by ; relatives here or are men and women with a deliberate preference for New Zealand whose coming has been delayed by the war.. If that is so, it appears J that immigration under the Imperial Government's scheme of free pasSages must -be C; delayed for some months yet and that propaganda intended to influence those bent on migrating;but careless whither they go has not yet been Commenced.' , The criticisms of the High : Commissioner's f office, attributed to a recent visitor to -London will not increase public \ confidence in the ability of ; - this country to compete against a the other ; Dominions ' for a share of British emigrants. For ,the moment the 1 long and ' expensive voyage to • New "j,; Zealand hardly counts. Usually it leads many . emigrants to decide in favour of Canada, but the Imperial Government has undertaken to pay the passage of any approved man' or \ woman with' war service and, in the case. of the head of a family, the passages of his wife and children. ,New\; Zealand will, therefore, be judged solely by its merits as an immigrants' country and; her natural advantages are bo great that a: little judicious ■ propaganda would cause the stream of British manhood and womanhood to set strongly to these shores. If the High Commissioner's office can offer nothing but a negative to those seeking information, New Zealand propaganda in London must' be 'of negligible * value. The Prime > Minister has hinted more than once at a reorganisation of the High Commissioner's office. The criticism published this morning suggests that the reorganisation is overdue. It tannot; too often be emphasised that the present is the golden opportunity for immigration. Demobilised men and women are deciding now where they will make their future homes. They may be influenced now. Next year it will be too late.