EMPIRE SETTLEMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1935, Page 4

EMPIRE SETTLEMENT.

The decision of the Imperial Government to appoint a new organisation for the purpose of examining migration schemes will be noted with interest in New Zealand. The new Empire Settlement Board is to prepare such schemes and submit them to Dominion Governments. If they are approved, the plans are to be brought into operation without delay, but it need hardly be stated that negotiations in regard to any scheme of migration are not likely to be easy. The Prime Minister stated at Auckland recently that alterations in Great Britain’s attitude towards food supplies for her people might give New Zealand a golden chance of expanding primary production if discussions between the two countries were entered upon in the right spirit. In its early development at all events a migration plan to be workable in the Dominion would have to depend upon primary production for its success. There is no doubt that by closer settlement and more intensive cultivation room could be made for a much larger farming community in the Dominion than exists at present. The presence of such a community would, of course, increase the demand for locally manufactured commodities, but only if the primary producer is assured of a market oversea for his expanded output. Selection and training of suitable migrants would appear to be an important section of the duties of the Empire Settlement Board that is to be set up. Efforts made in tire “distressed areas” in Great Britain to train for work on the land men formerly occupied in mining and in the iron and steel industry have shown promising results. There seems no reason why migration should not assist in relieving the problems of Great Britain as long as she is prepared to purchase commodities produced by migrants to the Dominion, who should, in their turn, be purchasers of British manufactures. Although to find work for the unemployed is the first duty of any New Zealand Government at present, it may be that a well devised migration scheme would assist in its performance if suitable migrants are obtainable with sufficient financial resources to help them through the initial years in a new country. Such a scheme is not likely to develop within a few weeks or months, but it is satisfactory to note that in Great Britain its possibilities are to be inquired into seriously. If the right plan is produced support from the Dominion is likely to follow.