SELFISH PEOPLE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22695, 6 April 1937, Page 11

SELFISH PEOPLE

DOMINION CRITICISED ATTITUDE TO IMMIGRATION AN ILL-BALANCED ECONOMY [from our own correspondent] LONDON, March 17 Hard things about the selfishness of some parts of the British Empire were said by Mr. J. E. Emlyn-Jones in an address to the Cardiff Business Club at the Engineers' Institute. Mr. EmlynJones recently returned from a tour of the Empire as a delegate to the Congress of the Federation of the Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire at Wellington, and ho described his personal reactions. He travelled across Canada, the Pacific, New Zealand, Australia, India and other parts of the Empire. His chief concern was with emigration, and lie told his audience that in both New Zealand and in Australia he found the utmost selfishness. He reminded them that the population of New Zealand was only about 1,500,000, and it was wrong that so resourceful an area of the Empire should be cornered by so few people. In no year in this century had more than 14,500 people been admitted —and that figure had been reached only three times. Like Spoiled Children

The truth was that New Zealand was far too concerned with industrial activity. Her economy was ill-balanced. For those and other reasons there was no wonder that her saturation point had been reached. Unless they knew how to develop their land someone else would come along and do it for them. He was hopeful for the future. Its opportunities over the last century had been lost. Migration might bring about a change, but he did not think that New Zealand would agree to it. The people were like spoiled children, willing to take everything from the Mother Country and give nothing in return of any practical value. Mr. Emlyn-Jones found much' to admire in the country, nevertheless. Its educational system was one which the Mother Country might look upon with envy. Furthermore, whatever the cost, the results appeared to be excellent. In his opinion, workers and their families had a better standard of living than people in similar positions in most countries. The "Tragedy" of Australia Continuing, he said he found conditions much the same in Australia. Relating a story of a visit to a wire-rope making works in Newcastle, New South Wales, he said he was told the product was sold at twice as much as the wire manufactured in Cardiff. Why could not Cardiff ropes be exported and sold at a lower price, thus leaving the Australian with more money to buy from the home country ? He was told" "That is another story!" He suggested that the remark threw a strong light on the economic outlook of the Dominions in relation to the Mother Country. Speaking of the under-population of Australia, he asked whether there was ever a greater tragedy in the world. More than two-thirds were suitable for colonisation, but the people had neglected to take full advantage of their exceptional opportunities. Protected and coddled by the Mother Country, they seemed oblivious to the dangers they ran. Too Much Complacency In New Zealand and Australia there was too much complacency. They would neither open their doors nor fill their cradles. He referred to the Northern Territory, and suggested it might be good business if controlled Japanese immigration were allowed. If nothing were done within the Empire other people would do it for us. Summing up his impressions, Mr. Emlvn-Jones said: "I think, m the i main, the British Empire has been a beneficent influence in the world, but I am convinced that it could make an even greater contribution if its component parts could abolish selfishness and complacency and regard the Empire as one great brotherhood, rich in endowment and with a special mission to discharge in the disordered world of to-day."