LESS POPULATION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 260, 1 October 1940, Page 2

LESS POPULATION

PROBLEM OF WHITE RACE. ADDRESS TO ROTARIANS. The imminent decline in the population of the white race, both, in New Zealand and in most other countries, was discussed by Mr S. R. Morrison, University extension lecturer in Taranaki, in an address to the Palmerston North Rotary Club yesterday. The speaker said that the population question was quite an old one. He described the amazing rise in the British population in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, at the time of the industrial revolution, and remarked that any change in the lives of nations seemed to be accompanied by a phenomenal change, not necessarily a rise, however, in population. Many reasons had been given for this, but none was satisfactory. After the first flow of immigrants ceased New Zealand had a net loss in migrants in the post-war years, and to-day the flow of immigrants had dried up, Mr Morrison said. It was necessary, then, to examine the national trend in the population. The crude birth-rate had fallen to 17 per thousand, and the death rate, the lowest in the world, to eight per thousand and there did not seem much chance of its falling lower. In New Zealand to-day the girl babies were fewer than they were a generation ago, and if the present trend was maintained these girl babies would be succeeded by even fewer girl babies. The population had its greatest number in the age groups from 30 to 40, but this did not apply to the Maoris, who were increasing. The white population, too, had increased for a time, partly because of immigration and partly because of the forcing down of the death-rate, factors which did not apply to the Maoris. Their birth-rate was 46 per 1000 compared with 17 for the country as a whole. Unless the position altered materially the peak would rapidly _be reached and we would have a declining •white population. The speaker suggested some of the possible economical effects if this occurred. He said there would be a decreasing, market for goods and services for children, and the change would probably have a marked effect on the political policy of the country and on legislation. The rati9 of persons liable for pensions would increase and there would be a relatively smaller number of producers. .~, „ Mr Morrison said he thought there had been a change in values. He believed that persons still wished to have children, but they also wished to have other things, and they sometimes preferred the other things. Ihe speaker went on to deal with the need of increasing • the population if increased consumption were desired lor the products of secondary industries, and also described possible methods of increasing population in granting some family benefit, or by immigration. His view was that New Zealand would only solve the population problem when it had a change of values and wanted to have more population. The picture might not be as gloomy as he had painted it. and if loft alone New Ze, land might work out its destiny but the rest of t'he world would not lea\ e it alone. If people in this country did not want to be a sma'l white remnant among a Maori population they would have to do something about it The speaker was thanked on the motion of Dr, K. Dean. Mr H. L CunningVtame presided.