POPULATION NEEDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22777, 10 July 1937, Page 18

POPULATION NEEDS

THE DOMINION'S NEEDS

IMMIGRATION ADVOCATED MOTHERHOOD ENDOWMENT The hope that before very long there would bo created a new portfolio in the Cabinet to deal with immigration was expressed last night by the Hon. \V. E. Barnard, Speaker of tho Houso of Representatives, in addressing members of the Auckland branch of the Royal Empire Society in the University Collego Hall. Mr. "Wyvern Wilson, S.M., who presided over an attendance of about 40, said it was gratifying to see men in Mr. Barnard's position actively associating themselves in tho Dominion's population and migration problems. "I would like to answer the charge that has been made to the effect that in sponsoring tho New Zealand Five Million Club I am flying a kite on behalf of the Government so that it may determine its policy according to public reaction," said Mr. Barnard. "That is not tho case and there were no dark schemes behind tho movement." Lack of Domestic Help The lack of household help was a factor bearing on tho reduced birthrate, said Air. Barnard. Girls declined to go in for domestic work, tho principal reason being that tho work suggested a social inferiority. The endowment of motherhood was desirable, continued the speaker. Apart from income tax relief and family allowances the State did nothing to assist tho people "Wo are a rather impudent people in our attitude to immigration," Mr. Barnard continued. "Wo object to fresh stock coming into tho country and wo have no ethical ground for our stand. Tho existence o£ the British Navy is the only reason why wo can maintain our attitude." Unemployment Bogey Some people claimed that the Dominion's difficulties were duo to a defective monetary system. He did not accept that view and considered no alteration of the financial system would be as effective as a well devised, supervised and financially planned scheme of immigration, which ho believed would be welcomed by tho farmers. "It is raising a bogey to say that immigration will increase unemployment," Mr. Barnard added. "In my opinion the existence of unemployment, generally speaking, has nothing to do with the question of population." There was a shortage of building operatives, woollen workers, farm hands and domestic help and the admission of those types of workers would assist tho Dominion to adjust her conditions.