EMPIRE POPULATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 June 1938, Page 9

EMPIRE POPULATION

OVERSEA SETTLEMENT BOARD SOUNDS ALARM Dangers of Continued Decline STRONG ADVOCACY OF ORGANISED EFFORT By Telegraph.—Press Association. —Copyright. (Received This Day, 10 a.m.) LONDON, June 29. The British Government’s Oversea Settlement Board’s report expresses alarm at the decline in the Empire's white populations and suggests that Britain may not be able to supply sufficient settlers, for which reason it recommends the Dominions “additionally to admit a carefully regulated flow of foreigners of assimilable types, preferably from countries whose inhabitants are of the same stock as ourselves.’’ This .is the first time in history that Britain has suggested that the Dominions should absorb foreigners. The report is signed by the’ Duke of Devonshire, Messrs E. G. Machtig, A. P. Waterfield, E. T. Crutchley, G. Gibson and H. J. Mitchell, Lady Reading. Dr W. G. S. Adams, Lord Barnby. . The report declares that the problem of strengthening the Empire by migration from the United Kingdom to the Dominions is difficult and urgent and cannot be envisaged properly in isolation. A wide background of facts, including international aspects, must be taken into account. The problem can only be solved if Governments and peoples realise the importance of co-operating whole-heartedly for a solution. It is only from the viewpoint of strengthening the Empire as a whole that encouragement of migration from the United Kingdom is justifiable. The position of the Dominions, as relatively thinly-populated areas facing a highly competitive world, demands that the natural increase of population should be supplemented by immigration. The board urges that this should occur immediately, while Britain is still able to supply migrants. It is emphasised that it is a profound misconception to say that migration is a cure for unemployment and depression. On the contrary, it will only harden the Dominions’ attitude and give migration a bad name. The report says that if the present population trend continues, . the Empire’s population will became stationary and then diminish rapidly. OkUand aged persons will increase, leaving a smaller proportion of active -"S th. position,' but thinks lb. B„plr. has a dog in the manger attitude which contributes to world insecurity. The report emphasises that a planned policy is essential to produce a regula/ flow f?om Britain and would require that Britain and the Dominions should equitably share the financial burdens entailed Migration cannot be regarded as a matter of bargaming and should nnt be directly relatable to the question of increased markets for the Domffiions- product nor able to be offset against the introductbn of a . omnunt of capital. Opportunities for the investment of United Kingdom capital in the Dominions must result from the Dominion GovernK T The report opposes land settlement schemes, apart from ment V„ P „l circumstances It approves New Zealand’s, Australia’s and Canada’s social insurance, and advocates increased Britain-Domimons communications and an exchange of visits, including organised visits by workers and school children.