The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) FRIDAY, SEPT. 21st, 1923. THE MIGRATION DELEGATION

Hokitika Guardian, 21 September 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) FRIDAY, SEPT. 21st, 1923. THE MIGRATION DELEGATION

TflE members of the British Overseas Settlement delegation passed Most land County by this week. The party crossed from Canterbury on Tuesday, and alter an evening in Greymouth, moved north the following morning. The delegation is concerned primarily with investigating the possibilities offered by the Dominion for settlement under the Imperial land settlement scheme. Inquiry is being made also into the prospects of better trade relations between

the Dominion and the Homeland. So tar as settlement prospects are concerned, Westland County would be wellwortb a closer inspection, and seeing that Air F. B. Smith, CiM.G., the land expert of the delegation, who is still in Australia, will arrive in Auckland on October sth., and will undertake a thorough inspection of the available lands in the Dominion, the local bodies or other authorities here should interest themselves in the matter, and through the Department of Internal Affairs, endeavour to have Westland included iu the itinerary being mapped out for Afr Smith. He should be escorted south at least as far as Bruce Bay, and if in advance, full particulars of the route and its area were prepared, no doubt the information would prove attractive enough for closer investigation by the gentleman in question. The occasion offers the opportunity for a very useful form of advertisement, and the material gathered together could later form the basis for important information to be distributed locally over the term of,the Exhibition at a special bureau, which it would he worth while opening as a means to attract the attention of visitors to the settlement resources of the district. Reverting to the party, which recently scampered through the north part of the district, it is understood from the press reports that the delegation is not endeavouring to arrange for any early influx of immigrants for settlement purposes. At the present time immigration, except of domestic servants, is confined purely to nominated persons and no change in that system is likely for eighteen months, during which period land for settlement will he made available for those seeking it in the Dominion. At the present time half a million acres of Crown land are available for ballot, and another 400,000 acres are under survey. Will'll the survey of this has been completed, the survey of a further 300,00!) acres will he undertaken. The occasion for attracting additional population ot the right elii's is very necessary. New Zealand i» sparsely populated, and there is room, as development takes place, for more millions. Naturally, the growth under existing conditions must he gradual, and we are hoping that when the delegation returns Home; and publicity is given to its findings, that many people will find their way to the Dominion. There should be greater land settlement. Tt is a good move on the part of the Government to bring all the Crown lands it can into operation. Settlement of that kind should be. encouraged to the fullest extent. A reference was imnle yesterday to the needs for closer settlement here, but tile same thing is apparent, more or less, over the whole Dominion. A vigorous land for settlement policy would he the occasion to attract poulation. No doubt tile delegation will glean something ot the mind of the Government on this point, for it is here to get a correct view of the outlook in the Dominion so that the infqrmatiou to be diffused at Home will be fully authentic. From the Imperial aspect it can lie understood, that migration ■ls the root of tDo life and strength of the Empire, and as Britain has its teeming millions, it seems to he within the fitness of things that the overseas countries should be the first to attract serious attention when emigration is afoot in. the Homeland. New Zealand is far removed from the Old Country that it is essential to see that the right class of person ventures so far, and no doubt the present delegation will help to pave the way for an influx of population, which it is hoped will result in mutual satisfaction to all concerned.