DR. BEGG'S PLAN.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19625, 20 October 1933, Page 13

DR. BEGG'S PLAN.

To the Editor of “ The Tlmaru Herald M Sir —Your correspondent “Nota Bene” opens on a characteristic note. He knows the motive by which things are done before those that do them. With a desire to create astonishment, the leader of the New Zealand Legion burst into the light with a plan. Does it never occur to “Nota Bene” that other people besides himself may have motives for their actions other than self-aggrandisement or self-publicity? “Nota Bene” may be astonished to know that the lines of Dr. Begg’s address, are looked on as a fairly feasible and practical proposition by those both in England and in New Zealand, who have studied the question of the trends in both countries, just as much as “Nota Bene” himself. He is probably unaware that there is on the Statute Book at the present time in England, an Act which permits the British Treasury to provide up to £3,000,000 a year to assist in emigration to the Dominions. It will take all “Nota Bene’s” cleverness to deny that England has 2,300,000 unemployed, and that these cost on an average £4O each to the British taxpayer, and that the absorption of these unemployed would certainly save that amount. Surely “Nota Bene” does not think that all these unfortunate people are rejects, or that they would be unfitted to take their place in industrial life or the agricultural life of New Zealand. It almost looks as if “Nota Bene” was more bent on deliberate misrepresentation than in trying to ascertain the true position. He carefully avoids the question of the possibility of England being willing or able to receive the payment of her external debts amounting to thousands of millions of which the 177 million of New Zealand is of course a mere bagatelle. The lack of clear thinking on the part of “Nota Bene” is shown in his statement, “New Zealand is already threatened with a British import quota,” and he does not see that it is just this very question which is Jeopardising the whole future sale of New Zealand’s produce. He has to fine a solution for that. The worst of those people who think of emigrants in terms of peasantry, is that they cannot see that balanced industry provides a market for balanced agriculture, and vice versa. He is bound on the wheel; in fact. “Nota Bene” is a destructive critic, a very easy role which gives scope for cleverness for certain minds who construct nothing themselves. I enclose two recent extracts from the "Saturday Review” and the “Weekly Times” respectively.—l am. etc.. LEGIONNAIRE. Enclosures. From "Saturday Review.” of August 19. 1933.—“ We strongly hold that Imperial settlement and orderly emigration on a large scale are essential to

the future of our country and the Empire. The cant phrases about ‘manless lands and landless men’ are not all cant. But past experience warns us that there must be a drastic change of heart, mind and policy in the Dominions before any acceptable plans can be made. They must learn definitely that the exclusive policy of a narrow sort of Trades Unionism can never bring them safety, honour and profit. We must learn how to send them the right material, but that lesson can be learned easily to-day. The country is glutted with good human material.”

From “Times Weekly," edition of August 17, 1933: —"Mr F, Wentworth Downs, writing from Perth, Western Australia, says: 'The whole of this State is quite suitable for development by British people. Western Australia can absorb 10,000,000 willing workers with small capital. England trained men and women for war. Why not for peace? Save your dole and people the Empire overseas.’ ”