Britain's Surplus Population,

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 864, 9 July 1910, Page 10

Britain's Surplus Population,

If Great Britain' was going to continue to hold its own it would have to do its best to spread its surplus population judiciously throughout its Dominions. What New Zealand' wanted was population—tho very best people of their own kith and kin. Every man and woman who left Great Britain and settled in New Zealand meant to Great Britain £7 ss. per annum in trade, whilst every man and woman who left Great Britain and settled in tho United States meant only ss. per annum in trade to the Mother Country. Thoso who advocated placing a wall round New Zealand and keeping tho -Dominion to the few people that were ill it were doing wrong, for the'y did not recognise what was essential to tho maintenance of. the country just now no.r ill tile future. New Zealand must fill up its waste lands so that it might ' become .strong enough to keep tho country for tho people of their own race.. To say that there was not enough room for the boys in question was an admission that, those who-made the statement were not familiar with the'conditions existing in this .country. Ho ventured to say that the Government would exercise every power they, possessed to see that, the conditions under which the boys were employed wore right and proper. 1 ■ Mr. T. E. Taylor: Are they to be brought out then?

Mr. Mackenzie.-' My remarks were based on tho event of them being brought out. .

In Defence of the Farmers. , The Minister (continuing) said that ho knew there were somo farmers who did not treat their men and boys well, hut that statement would not apply to the great.bulk of the farmors.. (Hear, hear.) He believed in. training as many lads as possible on , experiment farms, and more required to bo done in that direction in the future. There had undoubtedly, been a la.ck of opportunity in that respect in the past. Another important matter was that boys should bo,taught as many branches of agriculture as was possible. As regards tho fruit industry, lie might say that tho experimental shipment to England was. a great success. , ■Mr. Herdman: Is'that tho Nelson shipment?

' Mr. Mackenzie: Yes, it'- turned out remarkably well. . > • , : In conclusion, Mr. Mackenzie said that ho wanted-to see. boys "well learned in agriculture aud given a.chance to go on the land. '

OTHER SPEECHES. Mr. ARNOLD (Duncdin City) said that twelve months' ago 1 Ministers had stated that there was a lack of labour, but within a few weeks' hundreds of unemployed wero knocking at the Prime Minister's .door, and . tho - Government were compelled to listen to their cry.Ho would like .to point' out ' that a firm which would be mentioned later on got 205.. for every . immigrant- that came t-o New Zealand. But it was 110 use bringing ■ out immigrants ill that way, if they were not coming out to employment. If there was a true, demand labour would come cut readily enough.... . . ■

Views of / Mr. 'Massey. .''' '

■ Mr. MASSEY said <,hat fn spite of the number of peoplo who were being' attracted to this country, the returns shoived that a .much larger number wero leaving than , should be the case; It .seemed to lnm that there were some classes, including domest'o .servants, who were generally welojmed.V As regards boy immigration lie might point, out that the dairying. industry was'being hampered for the . lack o'f 'suitable labour—lads from sixteen and" upwards,. He knew of many lads under 20 who were earning 255. per week I *and found, and others -who were .milking on shares wero doing much better.' There were thousands of prosperous farmers in New Zealand who riot many years ago were ■farm workers. - A worker. on a ■ farm had a better ; chance of .getting into business fob himself,,than a worker in any other industries.' Nobody regretted more than he did that the'tendency was for the population to concentrate ill the towns. •. ■ .

During the remainder of the debate other interesting points.,(which' are reported elsewhere in this issue) were raised. •