POPULATION AND PROSPERITY.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 April 1935, Page 6

POPULATION AND PROSPERITY.

The relation between population and prosperity, in which is included employment, is given particular point by the prominence given recently to the attitude of Hitler and Mussolini towards the birth rate in 'their respective countries. To many people it seems an anomaly that in a world .where unemployment is widespread and semi-star-vation not unusual noted leaders should be pressing for an increase in population. Yet on closer examination the position is not as anomalous as it might seem at first sight. History shows that in most cases the dominant nations were those with increasing rather than diminishing birthrates. To-day France has an alarmingly decreased birthrate, and Japan the reverse. And it would appear that of the two Japan, in spite of her teeming millions and the problem of clothing and feeding them, is making the greater headway. The reason is, of course, that every new-born child, every immigrant, is as much a potential consumer as a potential producer. This is one of the strong arguments in favour of a development of secondary industries in New Zealand, and the encouragement of an increase in population, either by immigration or by natural increase. The rural New Zealander is too apt to base his whole philosophy on the Henry George theory that everything comes from the land, and from that to assume that everybody not engaged in primary production is battening on the farmer. New Zealand at present produces far more of the fruits of the earth than those engaged in their production can possibly consume, and the farmer’s prosperity is in direct ratio to the demand for his goods by a consuming public. One of New Zealand’s biggest problems is therefore to find or provide a large increase in consumers. The task is not a simple one, of course, because there are so many secondary factors to be taken into account, but the basic principle is indisputable. Paradoxical as the remark may appear in view of the unemployment already existing, New Zealand presents an ideal case for a substantial increase in population. It will probably not be long before assisted immigration is again part of the Government's policy, but there is a lot of truth in the statement that a country’s best immigrant is the baby. The attitude of Hitler and Mussolini can be viewed from other standpoints than that of providing cannon fodder or cheap labour.