Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 1932. MIGRATION BARRIERS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17844, 29 July 1932, Page 4

Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 1932. MIGRATION BARRIERS

Despite the drain of the Great War Europe’s population increased by 100 millions in the last generation—that is since, 1900—and this striking fact which has been revealed by the expert statisticians of the League of Nations is causing social economists a good deal of concern. It would appear that in European countries there is a serious danger of over-population. • Confronted with the revelation of the recent census that the population of the continent, which was 450,000,000 in 1920 now exceeds 500,000,000 economists and demographic experts attached to the ever-busy League are conducting a series of inquiries and studies to ascertain the relation, if any, between population and unemployment, and the causes, trend, and effects of migratory movements of peoples. The Montreal Star’s resident correspondent at Geneva has given some interesting information concerning the results of these inquiries. In recent years, he states, migration barriers, like trade barriers, have risen side by side. The once free movement of labor is now as restricted, as is the movement of commodities, capital, and credit. Political thought appears to have failed utterly to keep abreast with the scientific and industrial development of the times. Progress, from an international viewpoint, is being retarded artificially, with disastrous results from many countries. Although it seems incredible and inconsistent, the last ten years have brought a complete volte-face in migratory movements. Also, the present depression lias had exactly the opposite effect on immigration and emigration fiorn what previous depressions and economic crises have had. Official statistics show that during the 19th century the population of continental Europe doubled —from 200 to 400 millions. In 1910 it had passed 447 millions. Between 1910 and .1920, despite the war’s toll of 24,000,000 military and civilian lives, there was an in crease of 13,000,000, while the past decade has added another 50,000,000 to Europe’s total inhabitants. Attempts to attribute the present unemployment crisis in part to over-population, however, have failed. Europe has an average density of 125 pcoplo per square mile; the United States, with three-fourths the territory largely undeveloped and marvellously rich in minerals and natural resources,' has 38; Australia and New Zealand have 13. Yet unemployment is more severe in the United States than in almost, any European country. It is also acute In Australia and New Zealand. According to Dr. L. Hcrseh, professor of statistics and demography at the University of Geneva, "it is not the absolute size of populations which is the determining factor in the volume of unemployment but rather the distribution of the population , according to various kinds of economic activity.’’ Movement of peoples, excepting tourists, is rapidly approaching a- standstill. Where in previous depressions migrations increased, people drifting from industrial countries to undeveloped territories, there is now actually a backward movement. Also many countries—ltaly for example, despite the fact that her population is increasing nt the rate of half a million yearly and that she has more than 1,200,000 unemployed—deliberately restrict their emigration. Italy actually encourages fecundity, her last census showing there were 20,000 families with more than 10 children each. Before the war 400,000 people left Italy yearly; in 1930 the number was 00,000, and now it is much less than that. Japan, an industrialised nation, is outstripping European countries in population increase with a birth-rate which exceeds her death rate by a million yearly. Like Italy, she is keeping most of her pcoplo at homo, not through choice but because they have nowhere to go. Manchuria may offer an outlet, though only about 250,000 Japanese have migrated there in the last 20 years, wtiile morq than 15 million Chinese have swarmed into Manchuria in the same period. Russia, under Communism anti companionate marriage, easily

leads all European states if Moscow’s statistics can bo accepted. Her natural increase is estimated at 3,500,000 yearly. Her migration losses are nil, as the Hoviot permits no Russian to leave the country except on a definite business mission. Once the sponge that absorbed many of Europe’s migrants, the United States is now actually exporting people rather than importing them. Before the War America received an average of 850,000 immigrants annually; in. 1920 the number had dropped to 420,000. Last year two people left the United States for every immigrant that ar-

rived. Departures exceeded arrivals by 40,217 and 0n1y.43,350 people entered under the quota. Canada, Australia and New Zealand, once popular destinations for British emigrants, no longer beckon. New Zealand last year had 21,635 departures as against 20,225 arrivals. Australia, which received an average of 100,000 settlers annually a decade ago, reported 44,414 arrivals last year and 51,224 departures. Canada’s figures show a decrease of 74 per cent, in 1931 in arrivals, only 27,530 people being admitted to the country. Ireland, which formerly "raised men for America and pigs for England,” is keeping her sons at home these days. In >1925 27,359 Irishmen left to seek their fortunes abroad, the great majority going to the United States. Tn 1930 only .15,359 left, of whom 13,680 went to the United States, 1032 to Canada, and 244 to Australia. Countries which hitherto have absorbed seasonal workers axe now closing their doors. Germany and France have barred agricultural workers for the first time. After innumerable theoretical deductions and assumptions as to the possible effect of .the rapid growth of Europe’s population on the future industrial system, one fact, the experts point out, remnins—that is, that each new individual constitutes a, new consumer. So long as consumers increase producers will have to keep pace, and so long as the world suffers from overproduction of commodities ami foodstuffs there is no real menace from over-population.