MORE POPULATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23517, 3 June 1938, Page 11

MORE POPULATION

MIGRATION PLAN URGED I SERIES OF DISTINCT SCHEMES REPORT BY COMMITTEE OF FIVE MILLION CLUB THE PRESENT AND FUTURE Advantages to New 'Zealand of a larger population are stressed in a report prepared by a committee set up by the Five Million Club to study the question of immigration Into the Dominion. The committee states that it is impressed with the necessity of evolving a series of distinct schemes, complete within themselves, in order to obtain a resumption of immigration. It believes there is a general feeling in the country that it is time some action was taken to bring about a more rapid increase of population than appears possible with the present net reproductive rate. “ The work of the committee has been divided into two parts,” states the report. “ First, we have tried to discover what public opinion is regarding the question of population as it affects this Dominion, and as a corollary to this part of our inquiry, we have endeavoured to And out the nature and extent of public reaction to an early resumption of immigration as a means of supplementing the rate of natural increase. Secondly, we have considered certain schemes for restarting immigration either now or at some future date. "It has been found that there is a tacit agreement that this . Dominion would benefit from an increase of total population at a greater rate than is ppssible with the present net reproductive rate. There ‘is a vague feelirig that New Zealand is at present handicapped by under-.population. To this extent, and to this extent t only, there is something like unanimity of public sentiment. National Question “We are confident that there exists a large and increasing body of public opinion that believes something should be done to increase the population of New Zealand at a faster rate than is possible with the present declining birth rate. But the impression gained is that people feel that since immigration is a national question it is the duty of the Government to take whatever steps are deemed necessary. We liave_ reached the conclusion that the public would support Government action in this direction, but that individually people do not feel It incumbent upon themselves, even if they thought themselves competent to do so, to consider in detail what action should be taken to encourage immigration to New Zealand. , .. " From the point of view of those who advocate an early resumption of immigration, the most encouraging sign is the absence of any strong body of opposition opinion. If favourable opinion is latent rather than active, at least opposition is lukewarm rather than adamant. Cause of Opposition "Our experience has been that opposition is stimulated by the single factor, fear; and that this fear is due to a misunderstanding or ignorance of the principles of immigration and the laws of population. It Is clearly expressed in the reasons given for opposing any resumption of immigration. These reasons fall into certain welldefined categories. In the order of Importance, judged by the frequency of employment, the reasons are: (a) That immigration will increase competition; (b) that immigration will endanger the standard of living; (c) that immigration will delay the re-employ-ment of those now unemployed; (d) that immigration will Increase unemployment; (e) that, as In the past, immigration will cause people to come to this country who are not suited to life in the Dominion; (f) that immigration that is not voluntary is costly and of doubtful value; if a country has need of immigrants they will come of their own free will without the necessity for plan and without cost to the country. Agrarian Settlement "As a whole, opinion favoured agrarian settlement rather than urban This, however, was to be expected in a country whose characteristics are so prominently agricultural. We also found a thoughtful section of the people advocating a balance between rural and urban settlement as it was felt that this would assist the absorption of our unemployed through an expansion of the distributive trades. “In view of the situation in Great Britain and the further possibility of competitive inducements to immigration being offered by other dominions, such as Australia and Canada, we have explored public reaction to the admission of foreign migrants. We found no objections were raised against foreign migrants, provided these people were of assimilable stock. Preference was generally given to peoples belonging to Northern European countries. There was a distinct antipathy to Mediterraneans and such other peoples as are inclined to retain their racial or political identity in the country of settlement.” The committee states that its study of schemes had inclined it to the opinion that the present needs of the Dominion would best be served by a series of small collateral schemes rather than one larger plan encompassing the entire Dominion. The possibility of industrial export from New Zealand in the immediate future could be left out of present calculations; the chances were too remote. National Economy “It would seem that New Zealand cannot follow the natural trend of national economy toward a more even balance as between town and country industries unless the internal market is increased by accelerating the rate of natural expansion of population by means of immigration,” the report continues. “If industrialisation is to continue without the assistance of population increa.e through immigration, exports may gradually find a new and decreased level throuPh diminishing returns throwing all but the best land out of production because of the dead weight of internal costs of industrial enterprise being held at an uneconomical level through the limitations imposed by the numerical weakness of the internal consumer demand. It is difficult to see how it would be possible to maintain the present standard of living in such circumstances. It is equally difficult to see how it will be possible for New Zealand to avoid meeting the challenge for greater industrialisation and the demands for a more balanced national economy without the aid of additional population. “We reached the conclusion that there are three fundamental reasons for requiring an addition to the population by means of immigration. First, so that the cost of production of existing industries can be brought to a level where it will compare favourably with similar costs elsewhere by increased production brought about by increased demand. Secondly, so that new industries can be established without fear of harming exports through a simultaneous diminution of total imports. And, thirdly, as a means of strengthening the local market for primary products in ordler to mitigate the effects of any reduction of the overseas market that may have to be faced in the future. These three reasons cover both the immediate and future needs of New Zealand. We have not considered the more obvious reasons of defence, taxation relief, or the fuller utilisation of existing physical equipment, although these should be noted.

Domestic Help Question “From inquiries we have made we are of the opinion that 3000 girls and young women could be given immediate employment in households in this country. These migrants would constitute a definite addition to the population without in any way competing with the existing labour. Capable and healthy females of North European stock are available for migration to New Zealand. This committee is in touch with organisations in England and on the Continent that are in a position to send out females of a suitable type to fill the need for home assistance in New Zealand. "We have also found that there is a definite shortage of farm labour in the Dominion, and that among those at present unemployed there are only isolated cases of persons able or willing to fill this need. This shortage of farm assistance is falling heavily on the women, and is gradually turning feminine opinion toward the evacuation of the land for city residence. We have found it difficult to assess with any assurance of accuracy the number of farm assistants required, because of the seasonal factor, but as far as we are able to judge we would not put the number required at less than 800 or 900. There are in Northern Ireland, parts of Scotland, and Austria and Switzerland, men who have some knowledge of farming willing to emigrate to this country provided there is an organisation at this end to look after their placement and general welfare. “ There are in England to-day a number of families representing retirements from the professions, naval, military, and civil services. These families usually have a small capital in addition to their pensions. They are to-day looking for countries in which to spend the years of retirement, and in which their children would develop under healthy conditions in a congenial environment. We are of the opinion that a number of these families could be encouraged to migrate to New Zealand. Skilled Workers “ There is a shortage of skilled workers in certain trades. To a densely limited extent this shortage could be made good by immigration. We have come across several cases of New Zealand firms endeavouring to overcome this shortage by obtaining men from Australia. In the circumstances this is the easiest way out of the present impasse. But from the point of view ox Dominion welfare it is not entirely satisfactory for the reason that the Australian artisan is less likely to take up permanent residence. Artisans from England and selected European countries can be expected more reasonably to take up permanent residence in the Dominion. “We think that these are four avenues by which an addition can be made to New Zealand population without upsetting the present equilibrium or causing excessive competition or in any way adversely affecting the interests of Dominion citizens. These avenues suggest themselves to us as the best way in which to overcome certain proven deficiencies and at the same time assist this country to obtain a greater population.” Future Needs of Dominion “The committee says it is inclined to think that the future needs of the Dominion are in the nature of a greater expansion of industry coincident with an all-round increase of population, but with rather more numerical increase among urban inhabitants than among rural residents. That was to say it looked to a greater expansion taking place in the manufacturing, distributive, and entertainment industries than in the primary industries. “ We believe that all future schemes for agricultural development should have as their objective the greater diversification of agrarian employment,” adds the report. “We are forced to the conclusion that the degree of expansion in the dairy industry, in spite of its attraction for closer settlement, is strictly' limited. The production of meat and wool, on the other hand, appears to offer opportunities for further development, but neither of those industries can be expected to absorb large numbers of migrants. In our opinion agrarian settlement schemes should be designed with the object of developing other forms of agriculture. The development of tobacco growing, the possible establishment of a sugar beet industry, the cultivation of certain cereal and seed crops are variants that suggest themselves to us. It should be possible to develop the poultry and game-bird Industry to the point of packing for export either in the form of pulp meat, paste or essence.

“We strongly recommend that steps should be taken as early as possible to establish a Fairbridge Farm School in New Zealand, and every encouragement should be given to such organisations as the Dr Barnardo Homes and the Church Army Lads to bring young people at present in their care to New Zealand.

“During the course of our investigations we have felt the serious need of more thorough research into the various problems arising out of population in the economic, social and cultural spheres of activity in New Zealand. The field is wide and there are many directions in which research is needed, but there is one investigation which we think ought to be undertaken immediately. The effect that a stationary or declining population will have upon the nation should be thoroughly examined and the results should be made known to the people of this Dominion.

“As regards the main problem of immigration, there are two directions in which investigation is clearly needed. The first is to discover to what extent immigration can be used to strengthen the economic defences of the country, while the second is to examine the nature and extent of the field of industrial and agricultural development that can be exploited by means of organised migration.”