POPULATION FOR NEW ZEALAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13859, 23 March 1907, Page 10

POPULATION FOR NEW ZEALAND.

DR CHAPPLE'S OBSERVATIONS ABROAD. (FroU Ouji Own Correspokdest.) WELLINGTON,-March 21. Dr Chappie, who has lieen on a journey abroad, and who returned to Wellington to-day, made somo interesting observations lo reporter on. T.he subject of peopling Now Zealand. In travelling llirougli tha United Kingdom and Irelanc one of tho prominent matters in his mind was tho question of tho Old Country's power to supply suitablo settlers for Now Zealand. For years, he says, ho has had a_ roolcd conviction that the progress of New Zealand can only bo promoted liv an increase in productiveness," brought about by closer settlement of the back country, with a corresponding improvement of popii lalion in the city centres. If peoplo were placed on the land, increased population for Iho cities would follow automatically. In Dublin be found that the clergy were preaching.against emigration from Ireland, telling tho people that it was disloyal to their country to emigrate to a-foreign land when their own country needed them. The norlh of Ireland was too busy lo think about emigration. Tho country people or England moved on lo the cities." and did not desire to travel any farther. The nor",]) of Scotland, Scandinavia, and perhaps Germany were tho only places that were willing and able to snare a, proportion of their l»st agriculturists for countries with a elimato moro congenial than their own. His own opinion was that, if the country districts of New Zealand were set-tied by peoplo willing to till tlm soil, incrcaseil population for tho cities must follow, without the stimulus of assisted immigration; but assisted passages for farmers and country workers were an immediate necessity for New Zealand, and this was a fact that had to bo impressed on every young country in the world. They realised that, they must have population even at great national cost. Now Zealand could afford to select, and she had the,best, opportunity to get the best country workers and farmers from the countries be bod mentioned. New Zealand was in better odour Micro lliau Canada or Australia. That, was obvious. lie believed that within the next few years a strong tide of immigration would come to this country from the Old World. Ho considered that the Scandinavians were the best of all. If ho had tho problem ot seeming suitablo settler* he would cliooso a .Scandinavian from those resident here and send him away to get others. They were a thrifty, industrious, healthy race. Dr Cliapplo thought that though the High Commissioner was doing ab that was possible by the advertisement system, much better results would lxs gained by tho employment of an agent, who would actually sou the inientiieg immigrants and inform them about tho actual conditions in New Zealand.