MIGRATION PROBLEMS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16425, 8 May 1924, Page 6

MIGRATION PROBLEMS.

GENERAL BOOTH'S VIEWS

BOYS FROM ENGLAND

The problems of migration and the question of a better distribution of the world's population were matters that were touched upon by General Bramwell Booth, head of the Salvation Army, in an interview in Wellington. "It's an ill wind that blows nobody good," said' the distinguished visitor. "The railway strike has made me see something of New Zealand. What a wonderful country you have! There is not a yard of it but which could be cultivated. What a contrast to the crowded countries I have seen, where people are clambering over each other like sheep in an overcrowded yard."' The relief of the world's congested areas, the general stated, had for long been a problem which had. given the Army authorities much concern. They had had 1 satisfactory results in India in setting up irrigation colonies, to which people from the congested areas were transferred. The greatest of all India's troubles' was over-population. These were the fields in which agitation sowed its seed.

The whole question of world migration, General Booth said, had to be considered. The Salvation Army had transferred 150.C00 people from th e United Kingdom, chiefly to Canada, and on the whole the experiment had been successful. In the last seven years 50,000 people had been sent out to' Canada, and they had only had about 600 failures. "BOYS MUST BE WELCOME."

General Booth recounted a project to which much thought had been given,— the migration of boys from the Old Land to the Dominions. "But the suggestion has not been to warmly received," he proceeded. "I intend to talk this matter over with Mr Massey, but your Prime Minister, like the General of the Salvation Army, is a man who has to cope with many difficulties. First of all, 1 want to know if the boys are going to be welcome.

"There are three rules that the Army has in this connection; they are as unalterable as the lavrs of the. Medes and the Persians. First of all, the lads must be welcome;' We must be sure of that. Then, they must be certain of a situation to come to before they start. _ And thirdly, if they are failures, we will send them back again at our own expense. The Salvation Army officer, however, knows something about them, and I do not think you would get many failures. . . We want them received cordially. I am not to suppliant, this time, but I am deep ly interested in boys from sixteen years of age, boys who have left school, and cannot obtain work.'" BETTER DISTRIBUTION NEEDED. Numerous instances that had come under his personal notice were related by General Bo.oth. Some had been sent to Canada and to Australia, and had done exceedingly well. "But, here Ido not think they are very welcome," he remarked. "Why, I do not know! . . . A 'lad of sixteen would make a New Zealander, and a good New Zealander who wants to work. . . What we want is a better distribution, of population from the overcrowded centres; the whole world is calling out for it. This is a wonderful piece of country. They would get a chance in life here." The General added :"I have been asked by one of the Australian Premiers to send skilled laborers, but to this the trade unions raise objections. A better distribution of the population of the world is badly needed. What the world to-day is wanting more than anything elso is just government. I will not say that you want a general, but a 'boss' of some kind is required', who will go for these problems with (lie same energy as was put into war matters."