AUSTRALIAN NEEDS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19104, 27 August 1936, Page 14

AUSTRALIAN NEEDS

DEFENCE AND POPULATION IMPRESSIONS ABROAD SYDNEY, Aug. 8. "If we are to hold Australia, we have to populate it," said Mr. J. A. Perkins, M.P., in addressing members of the Commercial Travellers' Association on Saturday evening. | 'We must do it—even if we have to bring people from overseas, and bring them iairly' rapidly. In every country 1 visited recently 1 found men wanting' to know what we were doing with this empty continent. Authoritative figures have lately been published showing that there are 11,000 fewer, people on the laud in this State than 10 years ago. That cannot go on. If Governments, Federal or State, cannot do something to correct this, they will have' to get out and make room for those who can. (Applause.) Mr. Perkins had been speaking of what he had heard and seen while abroad recently. In Italy he found people tha* were, afraid to speak what was in their J minds—except in whispers, and then only 'after-elaborate precaution against being overheard. It was in this way that a priest one day dared to say *to him, "There is only one country worth lining in to-day—the one where the Union Jack floats." In Germany, the people were the best dressed, and the hungriest in Europe. Children of six years of age, there, were being trained to be soldiers—but Germany was also spending millions in the construction of highways. This was not being done in contemplation of immediate war, and, in spite of the existing position, he would be greatly surprised if there was a general war. "Some people come back from Russia with nothing but praise," added Mr. Perkins. "Well, I am one who has no braise. I saw nothinp in Russia that we have not got very much better in this country. It is true that Russians have more to eat than Germans. I saw thousands of Russians having meals—breakfast, dinner, and tea. What were they eating? Pickled cucumbers and black bread. We saw women building railways, sweeping streets, and driving trams. We certainly do not want to see Australian women doing that sort of thing."