CLOSER SETTLEMENT

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 152, 23 March 1921, Page 6

CLOSER SETTLEMENT

BELGIUM’S STRIKING EXAMPLE

CONSUL-GENERAL GIVES DETAILS Reciprocity between Belgium and New Zealand was the keynote of the speeches delivered. at the coinjjlimentary luncheon tendered by the New Zealand Club to the Belgian Consul-General for Australasia, M. Segaert, yesterday afternoon, at the Y.M.C.A. The president of the club, Mr. W. M. Page, was in the chair, and he was supported by the Hon J. G. Coates (Minister of Public Works), Mr. R. W. Beddoe (British Trade Commissioner), and Mr. Guy Johnston (Belgian Consular Agent in Wellington). The chairman, in welcoming M. Segaert, said that the club received him ffs the representative of a very valiant people, who had contributed an imperishable pago to the world’s history. Belgium’s glory did not, however, all belong to the post. Despite the ravages of the invading Germans, she was to-dlay a treasure-house* of art, and a sphere of great industrial activity. The New Zealand Club trusted that the relationships between the two countries would be both cordial and intimate. Immigration Necessary. M. Segaert, in acknowledging his reception, said that he deeply regretted that he was about to leave New Zealand. Everywhere he had met signs of prosperity, progress, and possibilities for further developments, and it was really won. derful to see what a tremendous ameunt of work and progress had been realised in the country in the short period of less than 75 years. He was impressed with the opportunities offering to the good, willing worker. The main question was to get more population. To this end immigration was necessary “You want,” he added, “good population of the same stock and breed as those men who have mode New Zealand what she is. You can never be too careful in’ bringing new elements amongst you fo share your wealth and prosperity. Naturally you- want mainly Britishers, but certainly you want, also, more than everything else, people who are prepared to live on the land and to develop the exceptional value of your soil. These people will never become a charge on the community, and it is universally recognised that the agricultural settlers are really the main asset of a country—either old or new.” One Farm to Every 12J Acres.

M. Segaert went on to discuss the case of Belgium as an example of what could be accomplished’ in, point of closer settlement One of the Smallest countries in the world, Belgium, has a total area of 7,362,500 acres, carrying a population of over 7,000,000. His country considered the question of agricultural production far more important than any ether, it being her most important asset, and the basis of her - national life. Sometimes the importancei of the part played by agricultural production in Belgium was lost sight of, because the extraordinary density of the population forced the ration to import a large amount of agricultural produce. “We have," he lemarked, “only about half-an-acre of cultivated land for each inhabitant to be fed: and there is, tout chance on our market. But of Belgium’s total area of seven million acres, 4.875.000 are under cultivation and only 267,500 are uncultivated, the rest of the land being forest. Of our population: of 7,500,000, 1.200,000 are agricultural labourers—almost the total figure of the population of New Zealand —and this makes one labourer for every four acres. Now, out of every hundred persons employed in agriculture in Belgium only 16 receive wages, the other 84 working for themselves and making a generally small Tjut honourable living off the land. The average extent of a Belgian farm is 121 acres, and the mult of that organisation is that our production per acre exceeds that of any civilised country.” Belgians as Settlers. After drawing a comparison between tho climate, soil, and appearance of "New Zealand’s wealthy plains” and Belgium. AT. Segaert said he had met Belgian farmers doing very well in Taranaki. Waikato, n.nd North of Auckland. “This is the class of peonle,” he added, "you want on your land, who will mix advantageously: with your population to increase the value: and production of the country. Whnt I have said about agriculture in Belgium has perhaps surprised many of you. In tho eyes of the world we are a great manufacturing centre at the cross road of tho Continental nations. But that is relatively of recent date.” Belgium’s industries had. Le explained, only been built, nn when the exploitation of her natural resources was completed. Concluding, M. Segaert expressed his heartfelt thanks to the people, the municipalities. the commercial communities and the Government of New Zealand for the most excellent reception and all the facilities they had given him during his stay! in the country.