SUBSTANTIAL GIFT

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 122, 25 May 1937, Page 10

SUBSTANTIAL GIFT

RHEUMATISM COUNCIL

DONOR A NEW ZEALANDER

(Received May 25, 2.30 p.m.) ; LONDON, May 24. . It is announced that a New Zealander, Mr. Alexander Mac Lean, has given 10,000 guineas to the Empire Rheumatism Council. He will hand over the cheque at a luncheon on June 26.

United States today, must be of immense advantage to Britain. The advantage would be mutual "So far as the effects on the principles of the Ottawa Agreements are concerned, 1 cannot think that the Imperial Government will .be likely to make changes that would prejudice the Dominion's position to any extent. America prides itself upon absolute free trade between all its States, as against a set, and considerable, tft-iff wall against the rest of the world. On the other hand it must be quite 'clear to anyone who is familiar with the potential growth of production throughout the British Dominions that the Home market cannot absorb what will eventually be produced by them. IMMIGRATION URGED. "This, of course, is one of the vital claims in favour of immigration. It is estimated that the two leading States of Australia, if completely developed, could supply the requirements of Great Britain. The Dominions must grow up as semi-independent nations, always feeling that Britain will be their chief market. So far as New Zealand is concerned, definite planning for ihe future is essential, and in my opinion we can never become an economic unit until our population is sufficient to take full advantage of the development of our mineral wealth. The consumption of the products we export by the whole of the population of Europe, other than wool, is probably less than half per head of what is consumed per head of population in New Zealand, and when divided up with the products of other Dominions and the production from other countries, our share of the consumption, in Britain itself is so infinitesimal that it is safe to say that every fresh individual taking up residence in this country is worth more to New Zealand producers than a number of individuals in Britain. If we had from 5,000,000 to 7,000,000 people in New Zealand, the country would be developed to the extent that not only could it absorb a much larger percentage of products, but its export production would be increased in ways not at present used, making New Zealand a big enough unit to enter into special negotiations for the supply of special! lines to other countries." - '