EMPTY SPACES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23302, 22 March 1939, Page 16

EMPTY SPACES

WEAKNESS IN EMPIRE NEED FOR MIGRATION NEW SCIENTIFIC METHODS [BY TELKGItAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] WELLINGTON, Tuesday The reasons for the desirability of planned migration between the United Kingdom and New Zealand and other parts of the British Empire were advanced to-day by Mr. H. Amos, Dominion organiser of the Dominion Settlement Association, in an address at the weekly Rotary Club luncheon. '"Many of us have long been disturbed at the empty spaces in our vast possessions, with their great potential wealth and their almost unlimited natural resources," said Air. Amos; The Dominions were dangerously under-populated and England was economically over-crowded. It was difficult to say which was the greater weakness, but some adjustment was verv necessary.

It was estimated that the British Empire could accommodate 200,000.000 people. Some might say that was absurd, and that it would only lead to over-population and result in poverty and starvation. There never was a. greater fallacy, and when the position was examined that was clear. Modern proposals for migration and settlement were based on a candid recognition of past mistakes, and on a determination to eliminate them by businesslike and scientific methods. The old methods were, of course, impossible and would rightly justifiable criticism and prejudice. Migration today must be carefully planned and organised, adequately financed and properly supervised. Apart from the very great weakness of the Empire —that of manpower—the other great weakness was that of unemployment. It was true that every industrial country was suffering similarly, but no otlier country possessed New Zealand's potential wealth and natural resources, and, therefore, the same opportunities of curing evil. Migration not only would fill up empty places in the British Dominions, but it could also euro unemployment within the Empire.