The Times WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1937. Huge Migration Loan

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 28, 3 February 1937, Page 4

The Times WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1937. Huge Migration Loan

A cable from London announces that a huge migration loan of £100,000,000 is mooted for this the Coronation year. If the forecast should prove correct, it would mean a very great opportunity for the Dominions. Whether they would avail themselves of the opportunity with enthusiasm is as yet another question.

Thousands of thoughtful people throughout New Zealand and Australia are awake to the urgent necessity of migration to these southern gems of the Empire. The combined population of the two Dominions is but 8,500,000 people. Australia, according to reliable authorities could well sustain 60,000,000 and New Zealand at least 10,000,000 people.

Asia has developed “a high population pressure.” And it is a by-word that “Nature abhors a vacuum.” Is not the population of this country tantamount to a vacuum 1

From every point of view it is not only desirable but necessary and urgent that there be a very considerable increase in our population. Yet both here and in Australia two Governments of different political colour are showing extreme timidity in facing up to this grave problem.

Frankly, our need for immigration is greater than is Britain’s for emigration. Should Britain definitely take the lead in this matter, then must the statesmanship of the Antipodes stand condemned.

It is frankly to he admitted that immigrants cannot merely bo dumped on our shores in wholesale fashion without plans for their settlement. Surely, however, it is not beyond our mental capabilities to work out a scheme for their placement. It can be done and must be done if we are to survive as a nation.

As yet it is probable that the majority of our population view immigration with apathy and many with antagonism. It is a prime duty of our leaders to waken the country to the vital necessity for welcoming newcomers to this land, to get the country behind them, and then to plan and work to bring immigrants out.

The great gathering at the Imperial Conference to take place after the Coronation should prove of supreme value and importance in bringing to attention in a right atmosphere the supremely important Imperial questions of defence and migration. Upon their handling of these two related questions will the Dominion leaders of the day be judged by history.