A BOLD SCHEME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23867, 22 July 1939, Page 22

A BOLD SCHEME

TRANSFER OF INDUSTRY FROM BRITAIN TO CANADA MASS IMMIGRATION

The freer admission of immigrants to Canada, particularly of European refugees, is advocated by Senator Meigheh and others, and it has evoked some favourable comment, says a writer in the Winnipeg Free Press. It has remained for the Canadian Corps Association to propose mass immigration from Great Britain, a tremendous movement that would utilise all the opportunities of the country and,exhaust its capacity for absorbing new population. The Government has been urged by the Dominion Council of the Canadian Corps Association to invite Great Britain to transfer to Canada one-third of her population and one-third of her. industries. Canada has the productive capacity, it believes, to support the 11.000,000 people we have "and the 200 per cent, increase we need." There is plenty of imagination in this proposal. If 22,000,000 more people could be successfully placed in Canada, our present troubles would all disappear. It would be a great country. Position of Britain But what would happen to Great Britain? Within the past year a member of the British Government told Parliament that the dominions would be approached regarding a transfer of some of Britain's surplus population. Nothing seems to have happened, but conditions have become more tense in Europe. Can Britain spare any of its manpower now. or does it need it all in its preparations for defence against a highly dangerous situation? Unless and until there is an entire change in Europe and some assurance of peace and security, how could Britain afford to lose one-third of her population and the wealth that would go with one-third of her industry. The nations whose co-operation Britain hap been seeking in a defensive alliance against aggressors have been demanding that she throw her whole weight into the alliance. Hence the recent decision to adopt conscription although there was no war. What would Britain's allies say to the proposal of the Canadian Corps Association? Whatever the possibilities from the Canadian point of view, thpre seem to be none at all from that of Great Britain, now or for an indefinite period in the future. Difficulties Seen Surveying Canada's ability to accommodate the 22,000,000. the association's memorandum to the Government said: "The Maritime provinces are not industrial, but might well be. Quebec is industrial and agricultural. It could be greater industrially, but not much agriculturally. Ontario has its great mining industry, but that takes comparatively few people and a doubled mining population would not necessarily mean Increase in the output of gold. Ontario's arable land is fairly well occupied already. Industrially, Ontario can expand from 3,000.000 to 10,000,000 people, provided that an outlet for the manufactured products was assured. " The Prairie provinces between them have less than 2,500,000 in an area exceeding. 1,000,000 square miles, but that leaves a false picture of availability for immigrant farmers. More than 90,000 persons left the three prairie provinces between 1931 and 1936, according to the Manitoba economic survey board. A big wheat crop from the West has no assured market at profitable prices. Wheat markets are needed abroad, or else we need three times the Canadian population—preferably both. When wheat consumption justifies, then and then only will Manitoba, Saskatchewen, and Alberta require perhaps double the population. British Columbia has everything but markets to justify an increase of 1,000,000 over its present population of approximately 750,000." In Different Conditions Thus the difficulties are recognised. Increase of population in the prairie country and in British Columbia depends on wider markets. The same with the possibility of a much larger industrial -ipulation in Ontario. And for British industry, which has developed under the conditions that prevail there, to pick itself uo and adjust itself to the quite different conditions in this country would be a large conApart from the idea of an early transfer of British industry to Canada on a large scale, there is definite assurance in our enormous supply of cheap power and other natural resources of preat and permanent increase in industrial production, in which British industrialists and British capital should play a considerable part. As for European refugees, Canada should receive her fair share, and with little delay. .Some of those peopleindustrialists, skilled workers, or agriculturists would be a valuable acquisition.

Canada's Obligation

And the common feeling of humanity shouJd prompt Canada to do her part in giving those who have sacrificed and suffered so much through cruel persecution a new chance in lifeThere is additional obligation in the fact that our Government has supported foreign policies that allowed the world deterioration to proceed and led to the development of the refugee problem. The Immediate immigration problem, for which the Government should now be making plans, is the reception of a considerable number of the refugees. Their selection would require much attention ind then the plans for their placement in this country. Cannot Canadians fortunate In their comparative immunity from the strain upon all European people, make this effort in common with other countries that fee] the inescapable obligation?