LARGER POPULATION IS VITAL

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 33, 2 November 1937, Page 9

LARGER POPULATION IS VITAL

Our Own Correspondent.)

Immigration Question and the Dominions VISITORS VIEWS

(From

AUCKLAND, Last Night. "Especially in these far fluug Dominions of New Zealand and Australia is a poiicy of immigration vital to our continued welfare — we^ cannot go on living in a state of isolation, and so, for the sake of safety, we must inCTease our population. We must also maintaiu purity of stock as British communities. Failing that we shali bave to turn to the countries of Northern Europe for our people, but we must have more." In these words, the Hon. Sir Eichard Linton, Agent General for Yictoria in London for the past three years, and "father" of the Big Brother Mvoement ef boy immigration to Australia, summed up his view of the immigration question. Sir Eichard, accompanied by Lady Linton, is returning to Sydney by tho Mariposa after nearly five years abroad. On his return Sir Eichard intends to take up public life. "We are emerging from depressed times and as we do so we shall have to resume immigration, because if we are to increase production we must have more people,. It is of vital interest to Great Britain to have ; somewhere to send her surplus when there is any, and if we take th'em we shall have to give a definite guarantee of employment, and at the sa'me time receive a similar guarantee, from , the Old Country that she will take the results of that added production. That is an important point to remember. "The- difficulty at the present time is that it is almost impossible to 'get Britishers to come here," he added. "That is why New Zealand and Australia must give seriou.s consideration to the immigration question. Preferably new settlers • should be of British stock, but if not we will have to eoncentrate on the peoples of the countries of Northern Europe. Were they not among many of our earliest settlresl When I was in Sweden— and the S\yedish folk are splqndid .farmers — overtures were made to me to see what eoud be done about settlin'g Swedesr in this country. They would have liked vrey much to come, and would probably start up their ' own communities." Sir Eichard explained that he would discuss the question in the. right quarters in Australia. New Zealand-born himself, Sir Eichard has been 4 years in the CommonweOalth, many of which have been actively spent in public affairs. He was in Parliament before leaving Australia. Discussing the outcome of the Federal electiou he said: 'Most gratifying! The results gave a lot of saisfaction in London and will go a long way towards restoring confidence overseas in Australian affairs." ii ii •.