THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1922. IMMIGRATION'S URGENCY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18277, 19 December 1922, Page 8

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1922. IMMIGRATION'S URGENCY.

Practical attention to Now Zealand's need of immigrants is' a matter of pressing urgency. It is doubtful if, at this juncture in its history, the Dominion needs anyi thing quite so much as an accession of population of the right sort, capable, eager to aid in developing the country's resources and to take a full share of its citizen responsibilities. Without such an accession, our full prosperity will tarry. Unrivalled natural resources in land and climate will go for nothing unless our idle lands are occupied by men and women of that type in adequate numbers. Astute visitors to our shores have, with impressive frequency, uttered their surprise at the absurdly slow rate of increase of our population in view of these natural resources. The explanation is to be found in our own recent habitual apathy about the matter. There was a time—it began ' with the formation of the New Zealand Company and continued throughout the first forty years or so of the colony's settlement —when interest in immigration led to a considerable increase in population by definite means. Then came a short period in which a decrease was registered, and, since the 'seventies, the natural increase gained by excess of births over deaths has been the principal factor in adding to our population. As our birth-rate is not increasing—it has shown a steady fall in the last fifteen years —the need for an immigrant addition becomes so obvious that no one with adequate vision can be blind to it.

Hitherto, New Zealand's response to the Empire settlement scheme initiated in the Homeland has been strangely lethargic. The Imperial Government is definitely committed to the expenditure of £45,000,000 in fifteen years in assisting to place British emigrants in overseas portions of the Empire. It is a scheme of statesmanlike endeavour, not occasioned merely by a desire to find employment for what for the time being is a surplus population at Home, but the outcome of a wise desire to fill the Empire abroad with trusty and useful sons and daughters of Britain. On that broad ground the Bcheme has merited keen cooperation on the part of the Dominions. Yet even for their own sakes it should have met a unanimous welcome. Canada has ever been alive to the need, and Western Außtralia and Victoria have entered eagerly upon participation in the project. New Zealand, however, apart from the opening up of correspondence with the Imperial Government, has done nothing. This inactivity is culpable. It means trifling with an opportunity that may not be prolonged nor come so favourably again. The British Prime Minister is optimistic about the speedy arrival of better times in Britain; that will check, especially on the part of its best type of worker, desire to emigrate. Conditions in New Zealand at present favour immigration. Our fear of receiving additional population, whatever show of reason it may have had a few months ago, is now groundless. An excellent season has been experienced for our staple products, production is increasing, and the outlook is bright. Now that this characteristically rapid i recovery is taking place, we should j seize the opportunity presented by the British scheme. Every thrifty, industrious, capable settler added. to our population will increase our | prosperity. There is every indicaI tion that next year will see a great | development in our ocean-borne trade, inward and outward. That j will mean increased employment everywhere. The waterfront will j share in it. All transport will parti- | cipate. Mechanical occupations j will be in greater request. Our own i secondary industries will profit by an increased demand. In these circumstances, immigrants will be i doubly welcome, both as consumers ] and producers ; especially those con- | templated by the British scheme, j since by their devotion to land j settlement they will assist to stem that urban tide of population which is showing a highly perilous ' momentum. Although there is nothing , parochial about the British scheme, and no portion of the Empire can gain by it without others profiting, j it may be well to remember the ' needs of our own provincial area. The need for population is vital

here. In very early days the North Island as a whole had a larger population than the South; but after 1858 the position was reversed, until in 1871 there began that steady growth which the North has since maintained relatively to' the South. In the last thirty years the Dominion's population has increased by 95 per cent., whereas the provinces show the following significant increases :—Taranaki, 181 per cent.; Auckland, 178; Wellington, 155; Hawke's Bay, 114; Southland, 68; Canterbury, 55; Marlborough, 39 ; Nelson, 37 ; Otago, 18 ; and Westland, 11. There has been, especially in the last few years, such a rapid expansion of the dairying industry that the North has attracted population from the South. Now, happily, the outlook in the South is brightening; and there may be expected a related improvement in its population statistics. That will involve Auckland's dependence to a greater degree on immigration. A realisation of this should arouse a keen demand, throughout our whole Northern community, for the Government's taking immediate advantage of the Imperial scheme. The High Commissioner has evinced a praiseworthy alertness : his office in London will readily co-operate in the selection of immigrants and the arrangement of their passages. The task at this end calls for vision and industry. The definite decision as to the numbers of immigrants required, their reception, their placing, the opening up of Crown lands, the prosecution of public works, the training of the new settlers in the preliminary stages of their adventure, and many other details must be studiously planned and resolutely carried out. It is the last kind of task to be left to luck, and should command the best efforts the authorities can make—at once.