IMMIGRATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 237, 7 October 1936, Page 7

IMMIGRATION

DOMINIONS’ NEEDS DISTRIBUTION OF PEOPLE “EXPAND OR GO UNDER” WELLINGTON, Oct. 6. “The Dominions must expand or go under,” said Mr J. E. EmlynJones (Cardiff) at the Empire Congress of Chambers of Commerce when moving a remit urging an Empire migration scheme for the better distribution of population. Great Britain could supply suitable facilities, he said, but the question of immigration was an urgent one because the time might come when a surplus population was not available. He moved: “Realising that a balanced distribution of population within the borders of the Empire is essential to the continued welfare and security of the British peoples, and that the early attainment of that balance is necessary to ensure freedom from aggression, and having in mind the existence of vast and sparsely-populat-ed territories owing allegiance to the British Crown, as also the fact that in years past many millions ©f people have left Great Britain and settled in countries outside the British Empire, this Congress affirms the vital importance of the early reinforcement of the population of the overseas Dominions by organised and substantial migration from Great Britain, and recommends, inter alia, the following conditions: (1) That those selected shall be of types suitable to exploit the opportunities afforded in the respective Dominions. (2) That the costs of transit and of settlement shall he equitably apportioned between Great Britain and the respective Dominions. (3) That the settlement of such immigrants as choose primary industries shall be arranged with a view to avoidance of those factors which have caused partial or complete failure in the past. (4) That the increased production in the Dominions resulting from the migration should, so far as is practicable, be absorbed by the acceptance by Great Britain of an increasing proportion of the primary produce of the Dominions. And this Congress further recommends that the Government should co-operate in arranging schemes to ensure that any surplus population leaving Great Britain should settle within the Empire.” Empire Influence. Mr Emlyn-Jones said that he was convinced that the British Empire properly used and peopled could be a most beneficial influence in the world. He had been in New Zealand for nine days and he had not met anyone opposed to increased population by immigration. Everyone in New Zealand and Australia appeared satisfied a stream of migration was necessary to the future. It had been said that New Zealand needed a population of 5,000,000, and if that figure was to be reached, there would have to be an acceleration of immigration. Immigration into New Zealand had declined and he believed that decline was the due to an ill-balanced economy, New Zealand had an army of unemployed and did not want more population as a result. 6 The unemployed might be absorbed by a building programme or some other device, but that would reach saturation in time. The unemployed could only be absorbed permanently by increasing the wealth of the country and the only way to do that was to put more people on the land from which the wealth came. Immigration had been stopped because of over production and maldistribution. England could supply labour and the colonies could supply them with land and work, and they would help to consume what was produced. The population of the colonies had been concentrated in the larger cities. Australia boasted of the population of Sydney, and Aucklanders boasted that one-third of New Zealand’s population was in Auckland, but that was nothing to boast about. If the population of the Dominion had not been illbalanced, twice as many people would probably have been settled overseas. The Dominions had wide fertile spaces and they would have to expand or go under. Great Britain had an unemployment problem that was exercising the minds of thousands of men. In the ranks of those men there were families who would be an asset to any country. The colonies had asked for the cream of Britain’s farm labour, but Britain had not got farm labour to spare. Britain did not want to send her “old crocks” to the colonies, but the young men who were anxious to go out and make a new home. Communal Life. Mr. Emlyn-Jones said that they wanted the new settlers to continue the communal life they had built up in the new land. The importance of this was shown in Wales, where the enthusiasm of the people for their arts and literature had saved the <oul of Wales during the depression. There was no need to worry about future markets. In a world in which the need for raw materials and foodstuffs was expanding there was room for the expansion of production in the Dominions. "We have to decide here and now, it is a case of now or never,” said Mr. Emlyn-Jones. "Unless we move rapidly Grbat Britain will soon have no surplus population to send to you. The population of Great Britain is starting to decrease." It had been estimated that in 100 years the population of Great Britain would be no more than 5,000,000 or 6,000,000 people. He did not say that those figures were correct, but there was no doubt that the decrease would be cumulative. At the present time Great Britain could send out a good type of settler, and the Mother Country and the Dominions could no doubt come to some agreement on the cost. Migration would transform the life of the British Empire and write another chapter of glorious achievements. Mr. R. M. Clark (Sydney) said that the future of the Empire was dependent on an adequate flow of migrants from the United Kingdom to the Dominions. Britain had a greater population than was economically or socially sound at the present time, while the i other parts of the Empire were in

vital need of new peoples. He did not agree with the theory that migration created unemployment. One immigrant might mean an additional man out of work, but the migration of 10,000 people would create more work than could be done. Australia’s greatest periods of prosperity had coincided with the greatest influxes of immigrants, and in these periods also she had made her greatest purchases from Great Britain. Mr. Clark said the population of the British Dominions was 20,000,000, and these people consumed 47 per cent, of Britain’s products. If that Dominion population were doubled the demand on Britain’s products would provide for a larger population there, and would lead to greater security within the Empire. A Difficult Problem. Mr. H. McD. Russell (Brisbane) said he considered that immigration was the most difficult problem facing the Empire to-day. They might get further if they dropped the words "immigration” and "migration” and talked about the development of the Empire. He did not agree that the colonies should merely produce from the land while Britain manufactured. A balanced economy was necessary in the Dominions, and delegates should not be carried away by talk of "vast empty spaces.” Australia was certainly vast, but much of the country was so dry that it must remain empty. If the population was to be increased to any great extent secondary industries would have to be developed while closer settlement was brought about. There was strong objection to immigration in some sections of public life in Australia, but their hands would have to be forced. If Australians said they would not have immigrants, the tihie would come when they would receive immigrants they did not want. If Australia did not accept immigrants her population would decrease, so it was of utmost importance that those who opposed immigration should be forced to see the true facts of the position. Australia was already short of domestic servants and artisans. There were therefore some avenues that could be exploited by Britain's surplus population. There were vast areas of land in Queensland that could be opened up if capital were available, and settlers of the right sort should be encouraged to the utmost degree. Mr Martin (Wellington) admitted that the population of New Zealand was practically at a standstill, but pointed out that New Zealand was coming out of a depression which han hit her severely and the migration question was becoming a live subject again. The matter was largely one of publicity and three books already had appeared on the subject this year. He declared that there was a shortage of labour in New Zealand, particularly for farms and domestic service. If given time to formulate a comprehensive scheme he thought that something could be done. Lord Elibank’s Views Lord Elibank, speaking as a delegate, Sir Thomas Wilford being in the chair, strongly supported the views of Mr Emlyn Jones. He said the matter had to be looked at not only from the point of view of the building up of the Empire Commonwealth, but also from the world point of view. He pointed out that there was a land hunger among the nations and specifically referred to the trend of events in Italy and Germany. It was no wonder that they were looking to the open spaces of the British Dominions. He said he thought British capital should be sent to the Dominions as well as migrants, but it must receive proper consideration. If it were taxed out of existence or anything done to make trade impossible, very little capital would come out. Lord Elibank also suggested that there was a need to open the way for a proportion of European migration as America had done. He pointed out that Britain’s own blood was by no means unmixed. The motion was carried unanimously amid acclamation. The conference opened a debate on a resolution designed to have restrictions imposed on cheap-labour manufacturing countries, particularly Janan. The conference then adjourned until the morning.