N.Z. BIRTH RATE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 87, 29 April 1937, Page 5

N.Z. BIRTH RATE

'PrMS AizociatioH.)

Five Million Club Concerned DOMINION CONFERENCE

iBf Tolegraph-

WELLINGTON, Last Night. A decision to send the following cablegram to th Prime Minister, the Et. Hon. M. J. Savage, was made at the Dominion Couference Of tho New Zealand Five Million Club, Whieh met in Wellington to-day. "This national organisation, representing a rapidly-growing body of public opinion, being seized of the serious implications of the iow birth rate, whieh, if continuing, ^ must result in a decline in population and a reduction in the living standard, desires to assure you of its wholeheaTted support in your work at the Imperial Conference when dealing with the question pf a redistribution of the White peopies of the Empire and New Zealand 's contribution thereto. ' ' A discussion on the question of raising the birth rate took place at the flrst Dominion conference Of the Five

Million Club to-day» It was agreed by all 27 delegates that any policy deeided on Should be SuCh that the in- . terests of the people alre'ady in the country shduld be preserved. The speakers emphasised that the use of im migration tO prbvide a sOurce of eheap labour would be strongly condemned. The following Tesolution was adopted:— "That this conference agrees that, in order to maintain the present standard of living, a larger population is necessary. This ean be seeured by: (a) creating conditions whieh would encourage a greater natural increase; (b) a System Of Carefullyplanned migration, whieh would provide security for immigrants and their families." It was deeided to set ttp two Tesearch eommittees. One was instructed to investigate and study the problem of increasing the birth rate and fche other to inquire into all phases of immigration. The following officers were elected: President, Mr W. E. Barnard, M.P.; vice-president, Mr J. A. C. Allum (Aucklasd) j interin secretary, Mr E. S. OdeU.