The Waikato Times With which is Incorporated The Waikato Argus. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1927. EMPIRE POPULATION.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17242, 29 October 1927, Page 6

The Waikato Times With which is Incorporated The Waikato Argus. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1927. EMPIRE POPULATION.

Mr L. S. Amery, the Secretary of State for the Dominions, has been speaking in Melbourne on the subject of Empire population, and while lie has not much that is new to tell us, he makes it clear that his journey round the world is broadening his own conceptions. lie says the population of the Empire is badly distributed, which is obvious, for England is crowded while the Dominions have fewer than they should have. It is no remedy, however, to merely move people from England to the Dominions, and .Mr Amery sees this, and contemplates the creation of new industries and the bringing out people who will succeed. It would have been of value if he had gone further and indicated the industries which he thinks might be developed. He is probably aware that Australia has tried by protection to start almost every variety of new industries, and that New Zealand is not far behind her in this respect. The nett result of our policy can be seen by a comparison of the growth of population. The people of England and Wales numbered 15,914,148 in 1841, and in 1921 the numbers had grown to 37,886,699. This Dominion started its career in 1840, and in 1921 its population was 1,218,913. While England and Wales added fifteen millions we grow to just under a million and a-quarter. The population of Australia in 1921 was under five and a half millions, so that Australia and New Zealand together added less than half as much to the population of the Empire as England 1 and Wales. Vacant lands are, of course, but part of the problem of colonisation, though they are an important part. Capital is also required, and both Australia and New Zealand were helped by large advances from the Old Country, in the shape of borrowing by the Slate and by business advances made privately. It cannot be said that our achievement during the period is anything to boast about. During the same period the United States filled up and spread from Elst to West across the Continent. Germany grew from forty millions to sixty millions, and several European countries showed great expansion. It may be argued that we are very well as we are and do not want immigrants, and although it is not often put into words, this idea is somewhat widespread. It is a mistaken idea, whatever be the future of the country. If wc are to look on war as a possible contingency, neither in Australia nor in New Zealand have we men enough to hold the country. If we pin our faith to the League of Nations and refuse to believe in the possibility of war, we must admit that we are neglecting our duty to. the Empire and to the world. We have wide spaces which wait for occupants. While many parts of' the world are unpleasantly crowded we cannot find settlers, or rather our settlers cannot make a living. That is a bird’s-eye view of the position, but when we look closer we find that in spite of our small numbers there is much unemployment and

some distress. Very many farmers

have had to abandon their farms, and there are still probably some whose chance of success is doubtful. It is clear that our management has been at fault in some way. The causes are probably many, and it would be diffl-, cul to find two men to agree on what they arc. We would suggest that the chief error has been in taking development out of its right order. An attempt has been made to start industries in a population which is too small and too scattered. Full advantage should have been taken of the chief asset, the land, and settlement should have been in every way encouraged. By this means a much larger population could have been secured, and that larger population would have given industries a chance to succeed. At present our legislation hampers the farmer by making both goods and money dear. Industries do not flourish for conditions are against them and protection will not create industries in unfavourable conditions. We have also spent much money on railways that would have been better spent on roads, and are continuing the same mistaken policy to-day. Our politic-, ians are more concerned in looking after thp interests of those who are already prosperous than of encouraging the growth of settlement. We must not look to the doings of to-day for the causes of our trouble; they dale back many years, and it is not only the politicians who are responsible. The people of Australia and of New Zealand are but too ready to capitalise their advantages of soil and climate, and the early arrivals made the later comers pay for these advantages. There is nothing to blame them for as Individuals, but it is unfortunate that they did not see that while this might suit them it was not good for the country. We are to-day reaping the fruits of many mistakes, but it cannot be said that we have learnt anything. Mr Amery, who is a strong protectionist, may consider our recent amendment of the tariff a step in the right direction. On the other hand he may be capable of understanding what he sees, and may- realise that from the point of view of population anything in the nature of protection is disastrous. Settlement on a big scale is what the country wants to lift it out of the slough into which we have drifted. Motor transport has made such settlement possible in many districts where formerly it was difficult. Reduced taxation, reduced interest, reduced prices would quickly attract settlement and population, and industries w’ould then have a chance to succeed. Such a policy would offend some vested interests, but it is the course which \ve must pursue to again achieve prosperity.