SETTLING AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17932, 7 November 1921, Page 9

SETTLING AUSTRALIA.

NEED FOR IMMIGRATION. VIEWS OF MR. W. M. HUGHES BOLD POLICY REQUIRED. Tho question of innnigratipn was referred W by the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr/W. M. Hughes, in reply to a deputation, which placed before him the schemo adopted by the New Settlers' League, in Melbourne recently. Mr. Hughes said that this was a matter of great national importance. He had endeavoured to make the people realiso bow essential and vital it was that the country should bo populated, both in order that it might bo safe and that its almost infinite resources might be developed. Ho agreed with them and with others that people were not/ wanted for tho great cities. He would never bo a party to bringing people for the cities. It was one of the defects of Australia that the, bulk of tho population had fettled in and about tho capital cities. They did want people to cultivate their spacious territory. How was it to l>o dono? As ho understood tho problem, thero was Only ono solution, and that was, that public "opinion should support a policy of development conducted on business lines, in which they could get at least 29s for every 20s spent, Tho first objective should he preparing tho places for the citizens that wcro lo be. Thin would involve expenditure, and at tho moment thero was a demand for economy. Thero was wise economy and foolish economy— lo neglect to insuro the house in which you lived. And that was tho condition in Australia, to-day, because this houso was only theirs on sufferanco by the Grace of God and tlio protection which tho rest of tho Empire gavo to them, 'llic Empire looked to them, and had a, right to look to them, to garrison the fort and to hold this outpost of the Empire. Immigration would bo an excellent thing for all their present citizens, because tho grievous burdens of to-day would become a lighter load by being shared by a largor number. To carry out this policy there must bo support from tho public, without which success would be impossible. Only when the people wcro educated to a larger senso of their own position and tho position of Australia would they support tho policy, and with their support any opposition that existed would vanish. Thoy must havo a bold policy, commensurate with the greatness of their objective, continuod Mr. Hughes. Australia had spent nearly £100,000,000 to win tho war. It might take £60,000,000 or £100,000,000 to mako tho country safo; but surely no £100,000,000 could bo better spent or could give a bettor return. The circumstances of tho Empire wero never so favourable for a large "influx of citizens as they wero to-day. Ho was sure thit it was best to say that they must cither have a bold policy of immigration, commensurate with tho circumstances, or Wvo the thing entirely alone. He did 'joi think thero was any middle course. < Sir Joseph Carruthers: In our opinion there is no second course. Mr. Hughes said ho agreed with Sir Joseph Carruthers that there should be no " cobbling." It would bo sufficient if tho Government developed areas, making them suitablo for settlement by building roads and railways, and providing water conservation, or whatever the district needed. Thus they would give an opportunity for prospective settlers from ovorseas, so thai thoy. might become acclimatised to the land" to which they had become he ; rs, and could, after a period of probation, fit themselves for land settlement. He repudiated the suggestion that men who had not bad previous experience on the land would be useless if they were given a chance, provided they were young, robust, energetic, and prepared to work. Ho. also agreed that tho Commonwealth which, as a result of co-operation and agreement with the settlers, had taken control of immigration at the other end, could not take the added responsibility of adopting the scheme of development, unless it had full control over the expenditure and over tho land to be developed. Subject to that, speaking for himself, concluded Mr. Hughes, he was prepared to accept the scheme. Tho Cabinet must havo an opportunity to consider it. They must appeal to all citizens of no matter what political party to assist them, ard enlist tho aid of all State and municipal authorities, if they were to carry through a great scheme. Ho believed that the scheme would be an assured success, but there must be ono clear understanding. Tho Government could not be subjected to carping criticism with regard to expenditure for this purpose, and at the same time censured becauso it did not proceed with tho work of immigration.