Drift to Cities is Economically Sound

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 524, 29 November 1928, Page 8

Drift to Cities is Economically Sound

PROFESSOR’S OPINION

“INEVITABLE AND DESIRABLE’* “I decline to be alarmed at the drift to the cities. It is a cheerful sign" and I would be alarmed if the reverse were the case.” said Dr. A. G. Fishe r , Professor of Economics at Otago Vniversity. in a lecture on ’ The Bogey of Urban Drift,” to the Economic Societv last evening. Mr. A. G. Lunn presided. Though the 200 candidates at the recent election had differed on almost everything else, said the speaker, they were almost unanimous in .deploring the "drift to the towns.” In the lecturer's opinion this drift city-wards was inevitable, desirtfble and proof that econoul: progress was continuing in New Zealand. The blame had been laid upon the shoulders of the Hon. A. D. McLeod, Minister of Lands, the Arbitration Court, and the lure of the city, some saying that the younger generation lacked the moral fibre and strength of the pioneers. These reasons were incorrect. CHANGING CONDITIONS This urban drift of population was world-wide, and was found in Great Britain, Germany, United States, Canada, South Africa, Russia and India. Despite the many side-issues advanced in common discussion of the problem, the real question was what proportion of the people should be engaged in farming pursuits. The proportion changed as conditions of industry and production changed. A country was like Robinson Crusoe who at the beginning spent 100 pet cent, of his time on securing and producing food, but later, when he was better provided, spent less effort in that way and concentrated on better shelter and clothing and the making of implements. ADVANTAGE TO FARMERS As little time and energy as possible should be spent in providing foodstuffs and raw materials, consistent with the needs and intellective ar.d economic progress of the people. This was economically sound. When the number of people engaged in any one pursuit fell below a certain proportion, their services became in demand, and the remuneration became accordingly higher. It was unnecessary and inadvisable for the farmer in New Zealaml today to cry out against the drift to the city, because a greater number of farmers would mean increased competition, and therefore lower prices. The farmer was not nearly as Itodly off as many would make out, though he protested that his returns were not large enough. This simply proved that at the present time there were sufficient farmers for the requirements of the country. RATING POSITION Professor Fisher answered several questions. He said the farmers’ attitude could be understood. One questioner kuew of a case where one settler was left on a King Country road, where there were formerly 27 settlers, to share the rating burden between them. A good deal of land had been permitted to revert to secondary growth as the result of the drift to the city. The question of rating was a matter of adjusting local taxation, said Dr. Fisher. It did not affect the position as a whole. If sufficient was being got from the land for the balanced needs of the people, it was not necessary to force more people on the land when their interests might be served better in the city. The need for fewer people on the land was due, as in the case of industry, to the introduction of machinery, which had made possible the production of more, with less labour. It was no more the duty of the farmer to provide employment than it was for the manufacturer to do so. -At the conclusion of the lecture, Professor H. W. Segar, supporting Dr. Fisher, said the paramount fact was that fewer people on the land could now provide for the requirements of an expanding town life. Dr. Fisher was accorded a vdte of thanks.