The Daily News. SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 1913.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 241, 1 March 1913, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 1913.

THE TRADE COMMISSION, The Trade Commission has opened its Killings in Duncdin. and i>. apparently, going to put in some good work. There were some ma Iters brought before the Commission which the chairman indicated did not lie within their scope of action, but which it was just as well tlicy should discuss. Rut there was one subject given great pronflnciice. on which the Commission has already made a pronouncement, lim i t(J „-],;,.], ui ]] probably be devoted considerable space i" Hie final report when it comes to be be made. Early in January, after the Commission's London sittings had concluded, an interim report was issued, affirming that increased immigration is •Meatial for the development of the resources of the Dominions. A platitude, censorious critics might cx«lmm, but it is helpful for those proposing to tender evidence on this subject to have the reassurance conveyed in the interim report. It now devolves on the various Dominions to show the Commission what class of immigrant is most desired, and there is also the obligation to demonstrate as fairjy and exactly as possible what power of absorption of fresh population each country possesses, and what prospect of success the new arrivals can command. Mr. ,1. A. Johnstone was cominendably explicit in the memorandum which he submitted. Naturally his view

of our requirements is I'ocusscd on the country rather than on the town, and in the main it must be conceded that he is right. The tendency of our rural population to gravitate to the towns, estahlished heyond question by the Cost of Living Commission, has created a shortage of farm labor of (he permanent, as distinguished from the, seasonal or migratory, type Voting people.

country-bred, says Mr. Johnstone in effect, are the type of immigrant most in gently needed here. They must be pre-

pared to come as wage-earners, anil must also make up their minds to hard work and steady thrift if they wish to exchange service for independence later on. In other words, New Zealand can offer the immigrant no easy path to aU'luence. There is no cheap land to be given away, as in Canada, to the new-comer. Xew Zealand cannot even make attractive offers such as Victoria is doing with irrigation sections, which may be taken up by a man possessed of very moderate capital indeed. Mere, sroing on the land, in its usually accepted term, needs money, and the fair market price spoken of by Mr. Johnstone is based on values which would probably cause any British agricultural laborer or small fanner to open his eyes with astonishment, as obtaining in what must be to him a new country in a far-flung part of the globe. Insufficient advertising may be a contributory cause to the tendency of immigration, to pass by tin's Dominion in favor of Canada or Australia, as has been a complaint of late; but if the prospect of a competent independence is assumed as the main idea prompting immigration, the extent of our advertising is a matter of Jess moment than the inducements we can in fairness offer in our advertisements. As to the question qf the Old Country being able to supply the type of emigrant most wanted here, after having stood tlie drain of emigration to America, timt is a matter on which the Commission has far- better knowledge, presumably, than most of us possess. Emigration is not a mere matter of arranging passages by steamer. Xew Zealand has its obligations in the matter; indeed, every country inviting population has. Rut in our ease they press more early because of the restricted area of this country as compared with other lands. It is not for a moment suggested that the populationcarrying capacity of the Dominion has been reached, or anything like approached. But preparation must precede absorption. Specific openings exist, and the fact that their existence is tending towards becoming chronic, suggests that outsiders take the view that readiness to receive them should not end in the offer of a billet.