The Daily News WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 1929. DEVELOPING THE COLONIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 July 1929, Page 8

The Daily News WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 1929. DEVELOPING THE COLONIES.

The decision of the House of Commons to provide a fund of a million sterling a year for the development of agriculture in the British colonies and protectorates is all the more remarkable by reason of the proposal emanating from a Labour Government, and by the vote being agreed to without a division. Apparently this commendable move on the part of Mr. J. H. Thomas (Lord Privy Seal), who has taken in hand the intricate problem of unemployment, lias not only a bearing on the partial solution of that problem in the direction of opening up 'more work in the Old Country, but is also intended as a means of developing tl’e colonies in . order that they may utilise their resources to greater advantage. Spread over the whole of the British colonies and protectorates the amount voted would, appear somewhat trifling, when it is remembered that the Empire occupies nearly a quarter of the globe, divided almost equally between the southern and northern hemispheres. It is probably intended that by far the larger portion of this subsidy shall be spent ,in the purchase of material manufactured in Britain. The view of Mr. Thomas is that many. of the colonies will, if they receive a little financial help, embark on development schemes, such as drainage, irrigation, bridges, and means of transport. He is well aware of the fact that the greater the volume of exports from the overseas portion of the Empire, the larger will be the total of imports from Britain, and it is this two-fold result which forms the basis of the scheme. The ideal of a self-contained Empire is no fantastic dream, for it can and should become a reality. For instance, the eastern portions of Australasia border so nearly upon the western hemisphere that the distribution of day and night through the Empire is, like the alternations of the seasons, almost complete, one half enjoying daylight while the other half is in darkness. These alternations of time and seasons, combined with the variety of soils and climates, have proved to have brought about an increasingly important effect upon the material and industrial,’ as well as upon the social and political developments of the Empire. This has become apparent—and will be more and more strikingly emphasised as time goes on—in considering the industrial productions of the different divisions, and the harvest seasons which permit the summer produce of one portion of the Empire to supply the winter requirements of its other markets, and conversely. The various climates of the Empire may be said to include all the known climates of the world, while its soils are no less diverse. Under these circumstances, and taking into consideration the fact that the population of the Empire may be estimated as amounting to something more than one fourth of the population of the whole universe, it necessarily stands to reason that the main Empire problem is how to adjust that vast population so that it can live in health and strength. So far this problem has not been solved; perchance it may never be solved satisfactorily, if at all. It goes without saying that if all the adults of this population could be usefully employed in swelling the total of produce for their sustenance and for export purposes most of the social and economical troubles would disappear, but > there are many millions who are content just to exist, while others are eager to obtain work yet are forced to remain idle. There has been almost endless talk about the unity of the Empire and the fullest development of colonial self-govern-ment, as well as of Imperial federation, the latter being openly spoken of in New Zealand as long ago as 1852. Jt is not too much to say, however, that trade has been at once the most active cause of expansion, and the most potent bond of union in the Empire’s development. The scheme propounded by" Mr. Thomas, though not new, is none the less welcome as a practical factor in developing the" resources and trade of the colonies in such a way as to assist towards mitigating, if not solving, the unemployment evil in the Old Country. Much will depend upon how the scheme will be worked, but we must hope for the best, while helping when and where possible.