The Guardian And Evening Star, with vhich is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 1928. THE EMIGRATION PROBLEM.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 August 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with vhich is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 1928. THE EMIGRATION PROBLEM.

Tun emigration problem is a very present problem all over the Empire. L\oi si nee the upsetting period of the Great War when the United Kingdom exerted all her might and strength to win through, the effect ot that mighty effort has had serious consequences on employment conditions at Home. A ml those consequences have been reflected overseas in the Dominions, which also did so much primarily to succour the Motherland in the time of dire trouble and difficulty. We are reminded of all this by 'Some recent remarks in Canada by Mr D. Kirkwood, a British Commoner, now on tour with the Empire Parliamentary Association. Mr Kirkwood is a free lance, and in commenting on the emigration going on from Great Britain, said: “We are watching this movement carefully. We of the working class realise what it means for young men to move to a land whose ways are foreign, leaving broken hearts and unhappy homes behind them. The very men who are being asked to leave their homes arc the men who would he called upon in times of war to defend their country, but now there is no room for them!” Air Kirkwood’s doleful ness would imply that Great Britain had attempted to stem the position with less heroic efforts than she had been forced to take. A great effort has been made at Home to resettle conditions after the war period, but the dislocation of trade and industry was so great that the task could not be accomplished successfully. Some other palliative course had to bo pursued, and the migratory schemes within the Empire are being tried. There are great possibilities for many in the charge and opportunity afforded. Aren of resource generally find opportunities in new lands. The history of the settlement of oversea countries suck as Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, show what can he done by pioneers imbued with the right spirit. The pioneers of other days ventured into new lands with less support and assistance than is offering nowadays, and the latest emigrants have improved opportunities and infinitely better conditions before them. Air Kirkwood’s outlook is surely a restricted one when he views the situation at the short range he does. The emigrants are lieing kept within the Empire. They are peopling a part and parcel of the Impend whole, and many of them will have opixjrtunities to become more useful and important citizens of the Empire abroad, than they could hope to be in their old surroundings. It is part of the price of Empire to peop’o the territory, and it is sound business to provide a strong leaven of English stock for the overseas. The Imperial responsibilitie of Empire citizens are the same abroad as at Home, end if Afr Kirkwood would train up a nation of fighters, the training can go on in the outposts as well as in the Motherland, The loyalty of the u?

minions is such that in the time of peril the oversea -countries may be called on, as Was done in the past. It may ine too much to licpe that with the peace pact war or the preparations for war, shall be really no more, but at least the situation, should it become extreme at any time, will be loss exacting, and any preparations lor war it may be expected need not require a fully armed nation. The policing of the seas and the security of the outposts of Empire, should suffice, and that being so the emigrant may devote his time and energies to peaceful pursuits advancing bis own welfare and adding to the productivity of the Empire On such a mission the emigrants lot will not be an unhappy one.