MUST FILL UP OR CLEAR OUT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18585, 10 October 1928, Page 14

MUST FILL UP OR CLEAR OUT.

BOOK APPEALS TO AUSTRALIAN WORKERS TO AID MIGRATION. (Untied Press Assn.—By Blectrlo Telegraph.—Copyright. > LONDON, October S. “ By a policy of restriction and exclusiveness Australia is losing some of the best blood and brains that Britain can offer. Young manhood is going to the Argentine and elsewhere, competing against Australia instead of being partners with it and sharers in its development and prosperity This is one of the conclusions of the Rev J. P. Pughe, M.A., an ex-Canon of Brisbane, who is intimately associated with migration. He has issued a report on his visit to Australia, to which Mr L. C. M. S. Amery, Secretary for the Dominions, has supplied the foreword: “ Everyone will do well to consider this shrewd and thoughtful criticism.” Mr Pughe declares that it is impossible to blame Australia House for tardy development. It is simply carrying out orders. When requisitions for settlers are cut down or entirely cancelled it is exceedingly difficult to carry on. No business worked on sxith uncertain and indefinite lines can possibly succeed.

He maintains that the key to the whole situation lies in Australia, and that the Labour Party holds that key. There are men in England, such as Mr Lloyd George and Mr J. H. Thomas, who could go to Australia, confer with Labour and establish an honourable pact of peace. Personally, he believes that the Labour Party in Australia is not destitute of high ideals or disloyal to the Motherland. 44 They helped the Empire during the war. Ask them to help us now. when the Empire is threatened by a greater danger than war. Make a prosperous and lasting peace at- home and save the Motherland the degradation of the deterioration of her manhood for want of employment. I appeal to the workers of Australia to help to solve the problems of the Motherland and find room in their ample land for their kith and kin.”

Mr Pughe maintains that Australia needs a wider vision of what the making of a nation means. It needs more than farm hands and domestics. The avenues of approach for the selected nominated migrant must be increased. Publicity work should be begun in America. Denmark, Germany and Sweden to encourage men with capital with specially liberal terms. ~ The yellow hand of the East is knocking at the back door of Australia. We must show that we are doing our best effectively to occupy the land, which we must fill up or clear out.”—Australian Press Association.