EMPIRE'S SPACES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18955, 4 March 1936, Page 5

EMPIRE'S SPACES

JEALOUSY IN EUROPE URGE FOR EMIGRATION DOORS MUST BE OPENED NOTED AUTHOR'S WARNING

(Rlec. Tel. Copyright—Unitfid Press Assn.) LONDON, Feb. 'l2.

The Dominions must open their gates to emigration from many lands or as purely as the sun rises and rivers flow, they will bo forced to do so, says Sir Philip Gibbs, the well-known author. The overcrowded countries of Europe are jealous of the Empire because its Dominions and Colonies contain vast, unfilled territories awaiting human settlement and development.

Foreigners say that the British have grabbed all the earth's empty spaces and are not utilising them Germany complains bitterly that she has no access to the raw materials required for her manufactures which are her economic life, and no colonies for her surplus manhood. Italy is fighting Abyssinia partly to please Mussolini, who likes the smell ol blood, but also because Italians need elbow room and covet other people's fields, minerals and natural wealth. Japan's population is growing by a million a year. Her leaders are asking: "Whence shall we buy bread that these may cat?" They are compelled to import metals, minerals, wool and many other things.

Many thoughtful minds are convinced that "suffocated" countries are the main cause of the racial and national passion now threatening the world with war. TO' THE. WOLVES? Consequently certain peace-lovers in Britain amiably suggest that we hand over some of our colonies.

However, we cannot dispose of them like lollipops to greedy children. Their inhabitants, born under the Union Jack, with allegiance to His Majesty, are members of our family of nations. We cannot throw our children to the wolves.

We cannot return those colonies to Germany even if we were willing. Our great Dominions must case the congestion of the overcrowded, overindustrialised countries.

Otherwise a combination of powers will say to the Empire: "You have too much land. We have too little. You dogs-in-the-manger, unless you give us access to your empty spaces," we will smash our way in and take possession .'"

This is the plain truth of the enormous stirrings beneath the surface of human life in this unrestful world.

All history since the beginning of time has. been a, long tale of mankind on the march for fertile lands.

Australia could take 20,000,000 people without noticing any crowding. Australia possesses one fertile region twice the. size of the British Isles with a population of 300. Canada could take millions; New Zealand and South Africa have room for many millions.