DRIFT TO THE TOWNS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 November 1923, Page 4

DRIFT TO THE TOWNS.

.MfXISTKirS \Mi;\v. AI/CKLAXM. Xovembi-r i’fi. Hi'' • iof-irt* (■! tin* .New Xvaland Immigration and hand Settlement League to co-operate with lln.* Cmeminent in festering tin- settlement of tin* l>oinniion's unpiedm-tive lands was explained in tin.* .Minister for Industries and ("oniinet'ce t Liu- lion. \V. Mov, nip Stow art) liv a deputation from Mutt la dy.

'llia pres id ft H (Mr Spencer’) said that fit * league rot!list'd tlull our future pios- ) t■ i ity rested upon tile steady increase of rural settlement and production, and '•vtis making an effort to assemble the soundest thought on these matters, r*ml educate public opinion with a view to obtainin'' a mandate from the people to strengthen tile bands of t be (lovernnieiit in removing obstacles to further development. It was stated that the opinion readied by the British Oversetts Delegation, that immigration must be based nit a land settlement policy to permit of its absorption, was inevit-

The Minister said that statements as to the drift to the towns wore subject to (Orlnin explanations which were nor generally taken into account. One was that the statistics, as now compilen, made the city and urban population

appear greater titan it really was, as alterations in the law from time to time, made possible iln> formation of boioughs in localities which were truly nnal. Another factor in the apparently lessening rural population, he thought, was the introduction of so mat,- labour-saving devices-. If production remained as good as or lietter than before, with fewer people, that

•-o some extent C| ual it'n-il what was known as the drift. \Ye were not likely to have any great metropolitan areas as in Austialia. although Auckland was tending in that direction. The Minister suggested that as the .Mini-tor in charge of immigration, Mr Xosworthy wottld shortly be visiting Auckland, the views put forward might he laid before him.