THE DRIFT TO THE TOWN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20116, 29 November 1928, Page 10

THE DRIFT TO THE TOWN

In flatly contradicting the pessimistic statements about and deductions from the urban drift of population in New Zealand, Professor A. G. Fisher, lecturing last evening, opened up a whole new line of speculation. Nothing that ho said, of course, denies that further land development in New Zealand would be an incentive to progress. The application of his theory to those circumstances would be that if it added even more, proportionately, to the urban than the rural population, thero need be no alarm. Another point to bo is his suggestion that the farmer should not protest against the city drift if it reduced competition and promised better returns to the farmers remaining at their old occupation. This does not allow for tho fact that the export market is the chief objective of rural industry in New Zealand, and that supplying the wants of the towns is a relatively small factor—though not so small as is sometimes insisted. Beyond theso minor issues, Professor Fisher's views are both interesting and valuable. Ho suggests that if the city grows in greater proportion than the country, it is a possibility that the country dweller, living at a higher standard, has more wants to supply, demands more services, and therefore a greater city population can be employed in tho new avenues opened up by this movement. That is a subject which might bo pondered by the prophets of woe. Even more worth noticing is the undoubted implication, given point by the reference to the election campaign, that it is not always safe for people witb

no scientific training to dogmatise on facta and statistics the true meaning of which they may not realise. This was apparent when Parliamentary candidates predicted ruin from the figures showing the number of landholders and farm workers, yet ignored the mounting volume of primary produce, the increase in flocks and herds. The difference between what they said and what Professor Fisher has said is the difference between making a case and making an impartial survey. Perhaps it is a pity Professor Fisher did not give his lecturo during the campaign instead of .after it. Yet he could hardly have done it, and in his wisdom probably would not have done it.