EMPIRE POPULATION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19139, 7 October 1936, Page 8

EMPIRE POPULATION

REINFORCEMENT NEEDED OVERSEAS DOMINIONS CONGRESS RESOLUTION (Per Press Association.) ; WELLINGTON, last night. The debate on Empire migration was resumed ibis afternoon by the congress of Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire. , Mr. ,T. I'. Martin, of Wellington, admitted that the population of Now Zealand was practically at a standstill, but pointed out that New Zealand was coining out- of the depression winch line! hit her severely, and the migration question was becoming a live subject again. . ~ 'flic matter was largely one ol publicity, and three books had already appeared oil the subject Ibis year. He declared that there was a shortage of labour in New Zealand, particularly for farms and for domestic service. If gieen time to formulate a comprehensive scheme, ho thought something could be done. _ , Lord Elibank, speaking as a- delegate, strongly supported the views voiced earlier in the debate by Mr. >T. E-Emlyn-Joncs, of Cardill. Lord Elibank said the matter had to be looked at, from the point of view of building up the Empire commonwealth, but also from a. world point of view. He pointed out that there was a land hunger among the nations, and specifically referred to the trend of events in Italy and Germany. It was no wonder that they were looking for open spaces in the British Dominions. He thought that British capital should be sent to the Dominions as well as migrants, but the question must receive proper consideration. If capital were taxed out of existence, or anything was done to make trade impossible, very little capital would come out. Lord Elibank also suggested that there was a need to open the way for a proportion of European migration, as America had done. He pointed out that Britain’s own blood was by no means unmixed. The motion was carried unanimously j amid acclamation. It affirmed the vital importance of an early reinforcement of the populations of the overseas Dominions by organised and substantial migration from Great Britain, and made recommendations to that end. and recommended that the Governments concerned should co-operate in arranging schemes (o ensure that any surplus population leaving Great Britain should settle within Mio Empire. The delegates were yesterday addressed by (ho Hon. \V. Larry, Minister of Internal Affairs, on New Zealand’s ’ coming jubilee. lie extended an invitaI tion io delegates to return in 1940. or, ' if not, to recommend their friends tn , come. The conference opened a, debate, on a resolution designed to have restrictions imposed on cheap labour .in mannfactur- ‘ ing countries, particularly Japan, and adjourned till tefmorrow.