NOT A BAD SIGN

Hokitika Guardian, 3 December 1928, Page 7

NOT A BAD SIGN

EGON DM IST CO X’TRA DICTS POPULAR. OPINION.

AUCKLAND, Nov. 29

“I decline to he alarmed at the drift to the cities. It is a cheerful sign and 1 would be alarmed if the reverse were the case,” said Professor A. G. Fisher, Professor of Economics at Otago University, in a lecture on ‘‘The Bogey of Urban "Drift” to the Economic Society. The lecturer said that while he had not read all the speeches of about two hundred candidates at the recent general election, lie was aware that although they di fie red on almost everything else, there was almost complete unanimity in deploring the drift to the towns. The thesis he. would attempt to defend was that the movement was inevitable, desirable, and a proof that economic progress was continuing in New Zealand. Blame for the tendency had hen laid on the shoulder of the Hon A. I>. M’Looil, Minister of Lands, and on tin; Arbitration Court, and the lure of tin l city. Others had said tile cityward trend indicated that the moral fibre of the younger generation had not the strength and quality of that of the pioneers. None came near the mark.

This proportionate movement of population Was world-wiiHe. It persisted in Great Britain as in Germany, in the United States as in Canada, South Africa., Russia and India. Common discussion on the matter introduced many side issues, such as organisation of city life, specialisation in trades, and uemployment, hut the real question was what proportion of the people should be engaged in farming compared with those in other pursuits. It altered as the nation grew and as conditions of production and industry changed.

New Zealand growth was likened b.v the lecturer to tin* improving situation of Robinson Crusoe. The castaway at first spent TOO per cent of his time on securing and producing food. Later, when ho was better provided, natural 1 he spent less effort in that wav and more in obtaining better shelter and clothing, in making implements and amusing himself. So it was with the nation, with New Zealand. It was economically sound that as little time and energy as possible should lie spent in providing foodstuffs and raw material, .consistent with the general needs and the intellectual and economic progress of the people.

Wherever there was too small a proportion of people engaged in any one occupation their services were in greater demand and their remuneration became higher. The farmer, while not nearly so badly oil' as many would have one believe, protested that his returns were not large enough. It appeared, therefore, that there were for the time being sufficient people on the land for the needs of the country, and lie failed utterly to see why the farmer, of all sections of the community, should cry out against the drift to the city, when more among his numbers would increase competition to his detriment. It was regrettable that when there were so many*grave problems for solution, so many people should concern themselves about something that was inevitable wul desirable.