BALANCE OF THE EMPIRE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18041, 16 March 1922, Page 5

BALANCE OF THE EMPIRE

POPULATION PROBLEM.

MIGRATION AS SOLUTION,

NEW ZEALAND'S SHARE.

TEN THOUSAND A YEAR. Bj Telegraph— Press Association—Copyright, (Received 4.40 p.m.) A. »nd NZ. LONDON, March U. Addressing the Royal Colonial Institute on "Migration within the Empire," Mr. L. C. M. S. Amery, chairman of tho Overseas Settlement Committee, said that better distribution of the population of the Empire was the key to most problems facing Britain and the Dominions. The results of the war had emphasised th« need for co-operation in migration, based on the recognition of t.his fact. The Dominions had now won equal recognition with Britain, but equa ity postulated an equal share of burdens as well as privileges. Full equality of partnership could be obtained only when the Dominions attained something nearer equality of development of resources and effective power with Biitain. This coulfl not be achieved by the Dominions without population. Until that was secured the new status of the Dominions was morei theoretical than real, which tended to produce misunderstanding and friction. Since the war the area of possible Motion had shifted to regions where the Empire was weak and vulnerable. This situation could not he encountered by increasing Britain's burdens of armament. It could be on y met in the long run by building up new sources of British power in regions of potential menace. The naval position in the Pacific war insoluble until the Dominions there had naval forces able to keep th« situation substantially intact pending the arrival of reinforcements. This could bo only obtained when the popu'atione of th» Pacific Dominions more "early corresponded to the task involved. Normal Flow Checked By War. Economically there was no sign that Europe had begun .to turn the comer. When she did foreign governments could bo trusted to shut out British manufactures by means of tariffs infinitely above the pre-war level. Most s*".ous of all, the normal growth of the Dominion markets had been retarded by war losses and the cessation of emigration. Taking the average figures for five years before the war as i. basis, emigration from Britain between 1914 and 1920, mostly to tho Dominions, wou'd have totalled 2,100.000. Instsad it actually totalled 340,000. This left Britain with her population increased by 1,000,000 above the normal rate of! increase.

Tho Empire needed redistribution of population between agriculture and industries, between Britain and tho Dominions. In Britain the population

totalled 400 to the square mile. In the Dominions it was undor six to the squaro

mile. The on'y effective permanent remedy was Empire migration joined on a

large scale with land settlement in the Dominions. This would be expensive, but it was the only lasting remedy of British unemployment and Imperial weakness.

Various <orms of relief do'es in Hritain. were now costing £100,000,000 a year. He was not' suggesting a remedy for tho temporary unemployment crisis by dumping unemployed overseas; that would be faofielesß, disastrous and unacceptable to any Dominion. What was wanted was a permanent and constructive remedy. Tho problems created by the war were so ; uble only by a steady, continuous and well-organised policy of transferring Buitr abln settlers from Britain to th* Dominions. Juvenile Emigration Advocated. Outlining the work of tho Overseas Settlement Committee, Mr. Amery said that the Dominion authorities only accepted one-third of the applicants. Nevertheless the embarkation was considerable. When pending applications had been handled 50,000 ex-servicemen, making with wives and families 100,000 settlers, would have beea transferred overseas.

Though he bad received a few letters of complaint and disappointment, tho overwhelming majority had expressed enthusiastic gratitude for the new chance given them, which mado him feel that it was the beet worth-while work he had ever attempted. Britain's payment of passages could only be temporary. The permanent scheme must be based on financial cooperation between Britain and tho Dominions. He hoped shortly to introduce the Migration Bill promised in the King's Speech. He realised that the success of the scheme depended upon the soundness of tho methods and the detailed arrangement.

IVom the adult population of Britain, 90 pei cent, of which was industrial, there could not be drawn enough men to mipply g the Dominions' needs for land settlement, . but there was a vast juvenile population still unsettled in industrialism, --vhich could be rescued from overcrowded professions, industries, and blind alley occupations." These formed the most topeful field for emigration. He welcomed tho extension of the operations of Dr. Barnardo'B Homo in Australia and the boy immigrants' scheme started by South Australia. / Australia Not Yet Ready. In conclusion, Mr. Amery appealed to all voluntary associations and people outside to give their best help and sympathy to the movement, which was siroultaneouiily one of social regeneration and Imperial strength. Sir Joseph Cook, High Commissioner for Australia, who presided, said that sentiment and the defensive strength of tho Empire alike demanded facilities (or migration within the Empire instead of outside the Empire. ( In the cdurse of a debate on Mr. Amery I paiwr Mr H. N. Barwell, ! J remier of South' Australia, said that Australia was beginning to realise the importance of th<. effect of immigration upon Australia S success if not even her continuance aa part of the Empire. It would be disastrous lo send large numbers of emigrants to Australia until she was ready to leceive them. Until South Australia completed i'h« settlement of her ex-soidiers she BBS ioi ready to absorb large numbers, but jho expected soon to be able to take tens of thousands. Be opposed the immediate carrying out of tho unification ol Australia's railways as work for emigrants, because monev materials, and wages would be abnormally dear. Ho thought that the work ought to be postponed _ until wages in Australia had reacht/d au economic level. Mt T Jowett pointed out that immigration must entail the consideration of tho States as owners of the land. !>ir James Allen said that New Zealand was prepared to absorb 10,000 settlers a veir in the next five years, Sir B. Walton, High Commissioner for Sooth Africa, expressed the fear UW South Africa had opened her door too Wg to foreigners, which was P™ g sponsible for the present disaster on titt