Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1942. ORPHANS AS IMMIGRANTS.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 November 1942, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1942. ORPHANS AS IMMIGRANTS.

JN proposing, at a meeting in Wellington on. Wednesday, that New Zealand should proclaim itself a haven for the war orphans of Europe, of whom there may be ten millions at the end of the Avar, the chairman of the Dominion Settlement Association (Mr A. Leigh Hunt) no doubt was giving thought, not only to the welfare of these innocent unfortunates, but to the peculiarities of the population problem as it exists in this country.

We are faced by a declining increase in population which is at least disturbing, if not alarming and it is rather obvious that a considerably accelerated increase in population is in the fullest sense to that word vital to the future security of the Dominion and to the welfare of its people. Already, however, there are some 1 .consequences of population decline which are beyond remedy save by immigration. This applies particularly to the relative numerical strength of age groups of our population as time goes on. We are moving into a period in which the number of young people in the Dominion will be lower in proportion, and that of older people higher, than these numbers are now.

As an illustration of this aspect of the position, the Official Year Book for 1940 pointed out that in 1936 there were in the Dominion 134,000 persons aged 20 to 24 years. In 1956 this group will be replaced by those who were from one to five years of age in 1936. The one to five contingent in 1936, however, numbered only 117,000 and allowing for losses, by death it is computed that, so far as the existing population is concerned, there will be at least 20,000 fewer persons in the 20 to 24 age group in 1956 than there were in 1936. The introduction of immigrant children of course would tend to remedy the prospective state of affairs here disclosed.

Mr Hunt’s proposal regarding European war orphans is in brief that- 1,000,000 of these children should be brought to the Dominion at the rate of 100,000 a year. No hasty or lightly considered opinion on a proposal as far-reaching as this would be of any value. Manifestly there are great difficulties to be overcome in introducing into the Dominion annually, in creditable and worthy conditions, nearly four times as many children as are at present born within its borders. It is clear, however, that on the grounds that have been stated, and others, the introduction of child immigrants to New Zealand in the right conditions holds possibilities of rather exceptional advantage to the Dominion and to the children concerned.

While Mr Hunt’s proposal is entitled to serious and detailed consideration, the whole question of immigration and of population increase generally in this country demands attention and treatment from a very much broader standpoint. It must be noted that in advancing his proposal, Mr Hunt stipulated that it should in no way interfere with any immigration scheme that we adopt for adults or juveniles from Great Britain, but there is a still wider field to be taken into account.

The ideal condition for New Zealand would be one in which it was not necessary to promote schemes of immigration or any other schemes of population increase—a condition in which the population showed a satisfactory expansion by natural increase and by what might be called a natural inflow of immigrants. Admittedly the Dominion is far from being in this happy position now, and ideals commonly are goals to which we must be content to make at best a limited approach. It remains true, however, that the only radical remedy for our present population trend is the establishment of conditions in which the expansion of the population by natural increase would be encouraged and expedited.

The extent to which immigration, on the lines suggested by Mr Hunt and on others, is advisable and desirable calls for most earnest consideration. It is already self-evident, however, that nothing but good can come of encouraging a great increase in the numbers of children born in healthy conditions within the Dominion. The best “immigration scheme” of all is, or would be, a wisely liberal and enlightened encouragement of parenthood.

This implies from the broadest standpoint the development of a more enlightened and enterprising national outlook — improvements in education, better housing and social organisation directed to lightening the drudgery now too often imposed on wives and mothers, and such an expansion of industrial and general economic enterprise that no young New Zealander will find himself or herself —as so many have in recent years—in the unhappy position of being denied an advantageous and satisfactory introduction into working life. Whatever may be done about schemes of immigration, it should be recognised that as a people we have done a great deal by neglect, ineptitude, and lack of initiative to discourage and depress the natural increase of population.