LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2515, 17 July 1915, Page 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

r — . . iTHE WAR AND MIGRATION TO , NEW ZEALAND. ' , letter 1.-after the war. Sir, Although tlio progress of tho war is satisfactory, it must.bo admitted that, had wo devoted more time to preparing for it beforehand, we should have done far better. This lesson should be laid to heart, and wo should now prepare for putting the affairs of the Empire m order after the war. Tho 0110 great outstanding need is the better distribution of the Empire's population. The fact that New Zealand was, a century ago,' worth nothing, hut is now worth 500 million-pounds, is due to past immigration, inaiuly from Great Britain. The excess number of arrivals over de- ' partures during tho past- decade has been about 8000 persons, and had the flow of_ immigration been double, her prosperity, her acreage under crops, her • wealth, her exports, and her manufac- » tures would all have' increased in proportion. She could now have exported liot only more meat and dairy produce, but also corn, instead of having to borrow some of that which otherwise would have been available for the supplies of our armies at the front.' The Prime 'Minister's expression, "all we are and all we have," would have had a double . Significance, and tho Dominion's contingent to the troops at the front could nave been doubled. ' The patriotism and generosity of tho Now Zealanders have astonished the world. After the war these,should survive, for it will be work and not gifts which the people at Homo will need. As Mr. Lloyd George - has pointed out, , a, great pressure of unemployment is.to be expected on the conclusion of peace, and work will be needed for defenco against starvation, poverty, and physical deterioration. Then the best and most enduring way for New, Zealand to aid the distress . which otherwise will be' inevitable in that comity of nations known' as the British Empire , will he to take somo'of our .surplus- labour to work 011 her surplus areas, so that both may be employed to the fullest advantage. By this means she can, increase our food supplies and keep down our poor rate, and at the same time provide for her own defence by the introduction of effi-ciently-trained troops, and reduce the burden of our war taxation by increasing the number of shoulders to bear it. AVe can only avoid a war in the Pacific by being prepared to defend our empty areas of productive soil. The transference to Europe of much of our labour has led to older men being employed and to work being avail- ' able for all at considerably higher wanes " than prevailed before the war. 1 . The on the physique and appearance of tlie people, adults, - youths, and kiddies, is a conspicuous feature of the conflict. It is for New' Zealand and other Dominions .to say whether this is to'continue or whether employers are to exploit our boys and ex-soldiers at low ■wages to the exclusion of these other Inen and of tho thousands of maimed .and wounded who will be seeking for work. The latter would be able to aot 03 messengers, lift-attendants, '-bottle-' washers, packers, labellers, clerks, and shop assistants, but these jobs will be taken up by boys who can find no other outlet'.for their energies unless they are absorbed overseas. . : "■ The first duty of the Government of : New Zealand is obviously to provide .work for all of their own forces who return, to civil life, but surely they can arrange that all vacancies by death ,in their Expeditionary; Forces are filled on the return journey by-fit men who wish to enlist from Lord Kitchener's Army, .Which is to .be discharged l as soon as ■ possible, after the war. This would provide labour for the land, and their consuming capacity, would-increase employment in the towns. . They would willingly- undertake to. repay their faies. out of after arrival, but cannot save anything out of their shilling a day pay, half of which, in innumerable cases, is assigned to their relatives, so as to qualify them for a Government subsidy. ■New Zealand was one of the. prizes the Prussian's coveted. Are her saviours to . .be excluded because they were born at . Home? The Boys.—The Imperialism- of • the boys is "unparalleled. AH the best, who could go, at the age of sixteen and upwards, have enlisted by over-stating their ages) and cases of boys joining the ranks at the age.of fifteen aro frequent. None of these wish to return to their former indoor occupations and narrow lives. 1 When, therefore, there aro situations for which no local labour is applying, .will not faiia bo Advanced to help out such boys from Home? Most of. those who came out in the past have lenlisted.and proved their sterling worth. The one thing needful for New Zealand to become-a-great nation is to •double or treble her population. -Now is her.great opportunity to do bo, and at the same time'to prove that , the Empire.is indissoliibly one, not only ih arms, but in'labour also. The extension of her urban employment also depends, on the expansion of her rural population. - If one farmst in every three .would ta&e an ex-solrf;yi' boy during the two years after the xar is over, some twenty thousand could come, out, and after they have repaid their fares they could nominate their sisters (and other, boys' sisters as well, it' .the nomination system, is extended to embrace them), and thus assure the.destiny of the Britain of the South. They would also spend £160,000 year on clothing alone. If they_ stay hero they will decline find deteriorate, all the improvement wrought in them by their time'with the colours will be lost., The opportunity' will, we hope, never recur, as it is due to the war, and New Zealand will be kept back.in her development. The boys, . moreover, will have to .take work to the ■ exclusion of the Empire's wounded, for ■employers will not employ a wounded • man when he can get boys or girls to do the Work more cheaply, although a leg. wounded could do labelling, packing, laying on, or other stationary; jobs, and 1 man with a wooden arm could go Messages. ' Is the Empire to he one in peace as well as in war? What is New Zealand's reply? _ ;• _ I .will write to you again concerning war widows and orphans.—l am, etc , thos. s. sedgwick! 33 Oriental St., Poplar, London, E. Empire Day, 1915.