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Hokitika Guardian, 21 September 1923, Page 2

Tin: Hon G. IV. Russell has written interestingly to the Christchurch newspapers regarding the field New Zealand is for the objective of the Migration delegation. lie says it is to be hoped the Imperial delegation at present visiting New Zealand will not carry away the idea that this country has reached the limit of its productive power or capacity for population of the right sort. The total area of the Dominion is 00.000.000 acres of which 41,000,00!) are m occupation. Deducting the five million acres of barren land, lakes, rivers, and roads, there are still fifteen million acres to he brought in. The value ol our rural lands (in tho counties) is .0320.000.000, boroughs £180,000,000. town districts £7,000.000; total £ooi .- 000.000. In 1921 there were 81.000 farms of one to over 50.000 acres. Some 7/5 per cent, of the holdings are not more than half a square mile in area. In this magnificent province of Canterbury, with oyer 8,000.000 acres o! area, there are only between thirteen and fourteen thousand farms, and of these a large proportion are suburban holdings around the city of from one to ten acres. The average holding is about tilO acres, hut if the small holdings mentioned are eliminated the average rises to about 0(10 acres per holding. Thirty years ago the Government of tliat day, owing to there being no Crown lands lor sale in Canterbury, adopted a system of re-purchase and suit-division, and under that system over 7000 settlers have, been placed on the land throughout the Dominion. I have reason for believing that the need of that system being resuscitated in full vigour was brought before Mr Massey before his departure for Homo, and that he gave instructions regarding it.

Nf.w Zealand, continued Mr Russell, stands sixth in the world’s list for the magnitude of its sheep flocks. The countries owning more than this little spot (counted in millions) in 1919-20, were as follows:—Australia, 75; United States, 47; Argentine, 45; South Africa Union, 29; Great Britain, 26; Now Zealand, 24. The industry of our farmers, the fertility of our soil, and the moisture of our climate, “account for this wonderful result in eighty years of colonisation. New Zealand has as many sheep as France, Germany, and Italy combined. In 1911 we had nearly 15,000,000 acres of sown gross lands, as compared with about 2,800,000 acres in all Australia and Tasmania. I need not deal with this, except to point out that during the war over half the cheese imported into Britain for our soldiers came from New Zealand, and the imports of butter speak eloquently. Our population is only 1.300,000. It is divided thus:—Children and dependants, 700,000; professional, domestic, commercial, transport and industrial, 350,000. Now we come to the crux of the question. The agricultural and pastoral industries may each be put down (ns certified by the census returns) at about 60,000 each. Those engaged in minerals number 15,000, and there are 6000 in other forms of primary production. The “indefinites” comprise some 12,000. I venture to invite the delega-

iion to examine these figures, and they can have no doubt as to tho capacity of New Zealand to absorb large numbers of immgirnnts of the right sort.

As to the people who arc wanted—(l) New Zealand can open her arms to people with capital, whether they are farmers or industrialists. Any man with five to ten thousand pounds can come with confidence. (2) Especially can we find room for retired army and naval officers, who are now being sought by Canada. (3) Trained domestic servants are badly required. (4) Coal miners are wanted, (3) Fishermen can do well on our coasts. (0) Large numbers of farm hands can find employment. (7) In particular, there is room for a very large mindicr of woollen mill employees. Tn 1920 we exported IG6 million lbs of wool, and used only 8J million lbs in our own factories. I hold that with tho development of our hydro-electric resources, which are unequalled by any country in the world, the destiny of New Zealand is to become one of the great woollen manufacturing countries, and nothing prevents huge and rapid expansion oi this trade but the shortage of skilled labour. Without wearying your readers, or the delegation, I would briefly say that here is a country of huge and varied potentialities. The astounding progress it lias made in eignty years is hut a presage of what is to follow. The land and resources are here. All that is required are sub-division, capital and labour, and Now Zealand can carry with case five times its present population.