A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2135, 10 March 1908, Page 1

A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE.

Population is the Dominion’s great need at present. The country, despito its varied resources and large extent of fertile areas, contains only a million inhabitants, but-, -according to tho Premier, it could easily support twenty times that number. The maimer in which older countries arcpopulatcd indicates that Sir Josepli Ward was not exaggerating in the slightest degree when- lie said this. Tiro president of -the AA 7 ellington Chamber of Commerce (Air J. CL Harkness), in addressing the members the other day, said:—“That question is, unfortunately, ignored by many, -and opposed thoughtlessly by others. Possessing, as we do, a country of great possibilities, and capable of enormous expansion, it is impossible that this 'development can he brought into rapid effect without a population of men and women living and working under snob -conditions as will give free scope to their energies and industry. The Dominion is hampered because it contains but a handful of people. To-day there is not an industry connected with our agricultural, pastoral, industrial and manufacturing interests, that is not 1 languishing for want of additional .help. Is it too much to say that within tlio next five years tint the Dominion could find profitable employment for thousands of immigrants of the right class who would make desirable settlers?”