The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, AUGUST 20th, 1925. IMMIGRATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 August 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, AUGUST 20th, 1925. IMMIGRATION.

Viscount Burnham, president of tho Kmpire Press Union, in an interview lmd something to say upon the subject of immigration, a question that has received his close attention for many years. He has been a member of the emigration authority since 180-1, and has regularly attended meetings of the Overseas Settlement Committee. The previous day, he said, the delegates to the Empire Press conference had held a meeting to discuss the question of immigration. They had been fortunate in having Sir Thomas .Mackenzie’s views, and also in having with them Mr William Bankes Ant cry, who was on his way to Australia upon his immigration mission. “I have always beloved that, allowing for tho limitation that must he imposed in regard to numbers, the prospects in New Zealand in many respects are ideal for overseas settlement,” Hie said. “Especially am 1 anxious to see the immigration of boys from public schools and secondary schools. J am not. of course, suggesting immigration of a particular class, but advocate generally immigration of youth. Then you have the making of characters and the adaptation to the oversea conditions which are not so certain in the case of older people. Here you have a system of nomination. 1 highly approve it, but 1 hope it may be extended so that church bodies of all denominations may be able to make themselves responsible for immigrants recommended by their related bodies at Home. New Zealand was partly founded by groups of settlers organised by various churches, and it would be a line thing if that could be continued in connection tv it If the nominate system. It could dove-tail in quite well. I think.’’ Viscount Burnham said that the conference in Australia would discuss the question of the newspaper in relation to oversea settlement, and the delegates hoped to have addresses from people qualified to speak for both Australia and New Zealand. He was glad to see that the position of New Zealand trade was so good, and that the financial position was so satisfactory. Naturally England wanted to keep her trade relations with the Dominions on the best footing possible. He had been glad to hear that there was promise of improved trade in beef. “I am anxious for the newspaper press at Home,” he continued. “to go in for an Imperial policy in trade, and to create a strong sentiment in favour of the use of Empire products. I believe a great deal can be done. It ought to be possible t« obtain voluntary preference for Empire products. Newspapers are not only the means for carrying out propaganda to this end, but they are also the principal means. I hope we shall be able to adopt a policy at the conference which will have some influence.”

Statistics showing trade balances are apt to be misleading, as so many factors have to be taken into consideration that things often are net what they seem. In dealing with British trade," the President of the Board of Trade, emphasised the necessity of developing Dominion and colonial trade on commercial and political lines, but as long as Britain was doing a world trade with other countries she could not he disinterested in the political and economic conditions of those countries. Of recent months the value of dominion and colonial trade to Britain had often been stressed by comparison of British trade with other countries. It had sometimes been made to appear that Britain had of recent years lost much ground in her trade with foreign countries. but had to a certain extent made up leeway by an fn ■reu'-o in her trade with the dominions and the colonies. Examination of statistics of imports reveals a steady growth of total imports m both the dominions’ and foreign divisions in 11)2-1 compared with 1923 ami at the same time very little variation in the percentages of total trade. The imports from the dominions in 1924 totalled £1188,016,000, against £326,303,(XX) in 1923, ami £191,510,000 in 1913. The ratio to total was 27.6 ]er cent in 192-1, the same as in 1923. In 1913 it was 21.8 per cent. From European countries the total was £-129,943,01)0 against £378,750,000 ill 1923, and £319,-107,000 in 1913, the percentages being 35 per cent, 35.5 per cent and 41 per rent in 1913. From America and other countries the totals were £461,286,000, against £392,903,000 in 1923 and £257,812,000 in 1913, the percentages being 37.5, 36.9, and 33.0. In the export section, however, a different position is revealed. Here also the increase in Dominion trade is satisfactory. hut in regard to European countries there is a decline. The exports to the Dominions in 1921 totalled £332.536,000, as compared with £30(1,696,000 in 1923, and £105,307.000 in 1913. the percentages being 38.6, 37.2, and 37.2. Exports to European countries totalled £209,81:0,000 in 1924 against, £273,015,000 in 1923 and £193,938.000 in 1913, the percentages being 35.8, 36.7, and 36.9. Exports to America and other countries amounted to £193,028.000 in 1921, against £193.618.000 in 1923 and £130.000.000 in 1913, and the percentages were 25.6, 20.1. and 25.9 per cent. The pen outages do not vary very much, hut the growth of British exports to ilie Dominions is very encouraging.