POPULATION FOR NEW ZEALAND

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21379, 23 June 1939, Page 13

POPULATION FOR NEW ZEALAND

Sir, —The alarming amount of mental sickness in New Zealand, coupled with fatal accidents and a low birth rate point the way to the extinction of New Zealand as a nation. We have sufficient roads, railways, schools and churches, etc., to carry a big population without further expense. But the dog-in-the-manger policy of New Zealanders stands in the way of immigration. Jealousy, narrow vision and stupidity are as bad as an external enemy. We are spending £3,000,000 on defence; why not spend £2,000,000 on defence and £1,000,000 on immigration? Our greatest danger is under-population and even the policy of the Defence League is useless against that danger. We could absorb 25,000 immigrants yearly at a cost of £4O a head. There are many skilled tradesmen among the Jewish refugees who would help on the prosperity of New Zealand. Each family would need food and other things and when settled down would become valuable citizens. Why should we be hard on the Jews when there is so much Jewish blood in New Zealanders. —I am, etc., DEFENCE. Geraldine, June 21.