The Wanganui Chronicle. THURSDAY, OCTODER 8. 1936. MIGRATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 238, 8 October 1936, Page 6

The Wanganui Chronicle. THURSDAY, OCTODER 8. 1936. MIGRATION

IT is a natural process in the changing economy of the world for populations to move from one section of the globe to another. History, in the past, has been mainly composed of the more virile races, made so by a vigorous environment, displacing the less vigorous peoples from the more fertile portions of the earth’s surface. To-day, some of the most arid and unsatisfactory parts of the earth have proved themselves to be the most desirable as adjuncts to the higher civilisations, consequently there Jias been a disposition on the part of the Great Powers to look to the sources of raw materials of various kinds, and for these sections to engross attention. Despite the necessity for the exploitation of unsatisfactory areas, it is still true that the fertile places of the earth are the most coveted. But fertility is no longer a matter solely of soil utilisation and productivity: anyone section must harmonise in with a larger whole. Before an area can be settled it is not enough that the land within that area shall be capable of supporting a primitive existence. Such a prospect no longer has any attraction for European people; they desire a higher standard of comfort than that which was possible in previous pioneering periods. It is one ol' the difficulties in the way of pioneering that between life in a settled country and in a new country the difference is very large indeed. The disparity deters pioneering to-day. But the disparity in comfort is not the only barrier to successful migration. A peasant existence is no longer to be considered enough, consequently it is necessary for a new community to have a marketable product which they can produce and provide them with a margin of profit. In each and every ease in which migration is discussed it seems to be regarded as sufficient to get the people settled on the land. It, is assumed that when once these, people are so settled that they will become purchasers of the goods of the manufactui ing countries. But the sine qua non of pioneering is to provide further raw materials. Hitherto the expansion of Australia and New Zealand has rested upon the ever-increasing demand for foodstuffs, principally within the United Kingdom. Wool has remained consistently a steady product which has enjoyed a world demand, but' neither Australia nor New Zealand could maintain their present populations by the export ol wool alone. Theiefore, if migration to Australia and New Zealand is to be encouraged, it will become necessary for a demand for a new product. or an increasing demand for an old product, to be developed. When that takes place, then the migration problem will settle itself. The demand for new products is a subject upon which the manufacturers of the United Kingdom have the most information, and it would be desirable if the manufacturing interests who are so concerned to sqe an expansion in the populations of the overseas Dominions were to search out new demands which could be satisfied. "While stressing the desirability -of manufacturers in the United Kingdom concerning themselves about the demands which the Dominions could, or should, be able to supply, it is equally urgent upon the Dominions themselves to seek out opportunities for their own future development. Hitherto the Dominions have been greatly concerned with the export of large quantities of fairly uniform products, such as meat, butter and cheese. There has been no effort at specialisation in product, nor has there been much in the way of producing entirely new products. It is in this direction that the way to an enlarged population lays. Further, the development hitherto has been producing the high-grade foodstuffs mentioned, namely, meat, butter and cheese. There is a vast population in the East which requires foodstuffs of lower grade. Australia is already exploiting the rice market, and by the aid of machinery, is capable of producing rice and selling it in competition with the low-wage producers of the tropics. There is likely te he a big development hero, for the demand for rubber is causing rulbber plantations 1o encroach upon rice-producing areas. Soil utilisation must, necessarily bo the keynote of industry in Australia and New Zealand for a lone time to come, and it is only for this purpose that an increased population can be profitably employed in the measurable future.