POPULATION DENSITY

Chronicle (Levin), 5 November 1947, Page 5

POPULATION DENSITY

(N.Z.P.A,

, — Reuter .

Migration Can Solve Grave British Problem

Canvriaht)

Received Wednesday, 11.25 a.m. LONDON, Nov. 4. The grave problem of the density of Britain's population in the event of another war was an additional feason for giving attention to the possibilitiss of migration, said Lord Barnby, initiating the House of Lords' debate on migration. He added that instead of bringing food to the people they could send the people where the food was. A long-range poliey for

the large-scale dispersal of Britain's population merited a very eareful analysis. ' Lord Strabolgi suggested that Britain jom the United States or the United States apply to join the British Empire. Lord Tweedsmuir said that a few disgruntled migrants who had returned had been given too much publicity. He suspected they were those who had "more wishbone than backbone." Lord Bledisloe extolled New Zealand's possibilities. He said that it could, within 15 years, carry a population of 5,000,000. Lord Addison, replying to the debate, said the Government's dilemma had been that while Britain needed manpower in essential industries so as to be able to export and make purchases abroad, Commonwealth manpower demands were just as urgent. It was for Britain to take sonie risk to meet the Dominions' demands for more men. _ He added that if 20,000 Britons in 1948 succeeded in getting out to Australia it was right for Britain to alford them an opportunity to add to the Commonwealth strength in a practical way.