SETTLEMENT WITHIN THE EMPIRE.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 June 1920, Page 4

SETTLEMENT WITHIN THE EMPIRE.

VIEWS OF SIR RIDER HAGGARD

LONDON, April 15,

In a paper read before the Royal Colonial Institute, Mr C|u-istopher Turnor outlined suggestions for the organisation and co-ordination of migration and. land settlement within the Empire. Sir Rider Haggard occupied the .chair, and referred to his tour of the Empire during the war in connexion with the movement for emigration by co-operation with the Dominions. In his opinion, Anglo-Saxon blood was so precious that every drop of it should bo preserved within the Empire. If that had been dono in the past we should bo a stronger Empire to-day and our only hopo of saving the great Empire to the Crown and to civilisation in the future was by preserving all our Anglo-Saxon blood within its borders. (Cheers.) The time had come when wo ought to consider seriously the question of the redistribution of ,our Empire population. There were too many people to feed here and too few' abroad. He was certain there would be within the next few years a great deal of emigration, and it should go to whore the British Hag flew. (Cheers.) The chairman said he brought home with him great offers from the various Dominions, but Government’s changed very quickly in tbe,Doroinions, and those offers, he was afraid, for the most part had lapsed. But there was a great opportunity to act in conjunction with the Dominions in making sure that every fit and pfoper person who left these shores should have the opportunity of making good for himself and his family, and incidentally, strengthening both the land to which he. went and the home country that he left. (Cheers.) They had to look (things in the face. They had to consider what a temptation Australia was to the more crowded parts of the earth. The League of Nations ljad. not yet established universal peace and the fate of Australia might be at stake unless it had a sufficient population. In South Africa the very word “emigration” was unpopular to n. large number of people, but if no successful efforts were made to increase tlie English population, the very gravest troubles might arise.

All' Tumor described the problem asi one of the inost important with which we were faced, and yet it was, perhaps the one. that was receiying the least care aud consideration, either from the public or from the different Governments of the Empire. It was of supreme importance for the following reasons, he said : —(1) Because our white population is small in comparison to the vast land area of the Empire. Therefore, we must see that as far as possible all who leave the’United. Kingdom settle within the Empire; we cannot afford to lose citizens. (2) Because the land of tlie Empire—its greatest material asset—is still in such an under-developed state that we shall lose our moral right to these great areas unless we can develop them more ■systematically and rapidly than in the past. (3) Because wo must produce a much greater amount of food within the Empire, if its citizens are to have an abundant supply at reasonable prices. The fact that with all our vast territories the Empire has not, up to the present, been self-supporting in the essentials of life, constitutes the strongest indictment of our Imperial (and National) land policy. (4) Because we must be, in the main, a selfsupporting Empire if we are to readjust the adverse international exchange. Because we must produce the maximum amount of new wealth from the land if we are to recuperate rapidly from the effects of the war.

In our present crisis, not only do we ivant thousands of new settlers but we must have successful settlers ,who shall become successful producers of food, with the least possible delay. Witli haphazard and unguided settlement the percentage of failure is high; under highly organised settlement the percentage of failure can be (and actually has been) reduced to a negligible quantity. To secure the needed organisation the Imperial Government must take the initiative in creating an Imperial policy. And the step should be the creation of an Imperial Migration and Settlement Authority with the powei's necessary for dealing with the overseas Governments, the shipping companies, and the large number of private concerns now handling migration. These must all be brought into line with the common policy and their work supplemented, if, indeed, not finally supplanted by the Imperial Migraation Authority. There are two main principles upon which this new policy should rest—principles which have not been considered or acted upon in the past. The first: Migration should l>e iruided in the first instance to that part of the Empire where, from the strategic point of view, population is most wanted. The second: Migrants should bo settled in districts where, under properly organised conditions, they will become successfu iproducers of food in the shortest possible time. Areas of less importance and suitability should be left for the present.”

‘‘But how can population be guided aright, and migrants settled aright, unless thore is an Imperial policy and an authority with adequate powers?” asked the lecturer. “It is not a question of urging population to leave the United Kingdom. If we do not fully organise and guide the migration which is bound to take place, it will not ho migration within the Empire hut emigration to foreign countries.” “The fundamental principles underlying organised and scientific settlement are the same, no matter in what part of the world the settlement takes place; and the penalty for ignoring any of these principles is an avoidable degree of failure in settlement. That is why a central and Imperial Authority is necessary. Surely it is our duty to see to it that the men who have fought for the Empire are placed upon the land qnder the best possible conditions.”

The principals referred to are:—(l) That settlers shall bo placed upon the land in groups or communities, other than as isolated units. Experience has proved that less than 200 in a group is not fully economic. (2) That settlers should own their farms rather than rent them. (3) That adequate acoess to capital should he provided. (4) That

expert guidance and supervision should be provided from the outset. (5) That co-operative buying and selling should be developed from the beginning. (6) That organised transport is essential to tlie’ success of the community. (7) That the community spirit should be encouraged so that the settlers can build up for thomseives a strong community life.”

“It is not for one moment suggested that the Imperial Government should interfere in the administration of overseas settlement, but it is its duty to initiate a big and sound policy and to assist its development in every way.’