Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1938. PLANNING AND IMMIGRATION.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 September 1938, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1938. PLANNING AND IMMIGRATION.

JN his address to the Masterton Rotary Club, reported in our news columns today, Mr L. R. Palmer, M.A., made out a very good case for adding to the population of this country by immigration. He also made it clear that the Dominion Settlement Association, of which he is a member, will not have anything to do with haphazard methods of introducing population. It may be hoped that the association, having thus broadly defined its outlook and working- programme, will concentrate either on shaping immigration plans of its own, or on inducing other agencies or individuals to shape plans which it can approve and support. Unless it does one or both of these things the association may lay itself open to the criticism that it is advocating something that may be desirable, but has not yet been shown to be practicable. Obviously, in the extent to which immigration is practicable, there is room for active and positive initiative in defining the conditions ip. which immigration might proceed. The shaping of plans for the introduction, of additional population is not, of course, an enterprise to be completed in short order, but it is an enterprise that must be taken in hand purposefully if we are to get away from the stage of talk where immigration is concerned. It will be necessary first of all to determine the conditions in which additional people may be established in this country permanently and in satisfactory economic and social conditions. Account has to be taken here of the limits that are being placed on our external marketing. There is much scope for - profitable inquiry, however, into new forms of land use and into possible new developments of secondary industry. There are other closely related questions which call for Methodical consideration and action. It is certainly necessary to deal in some fashion with sections of opinion in this country and in Great Britain which favour migration to the Dominions, but at the same time oppose developments of industry in the Dominions in the absence of which additional population would be left without visible means of support. In some respects the present time is one of great opportunity. The Old World is in a state of extreme, disorder and a number of its countries are expelling some of the best elements of their populations—people who have the courage of their opinions and in many instances, have been playing a highly effective part in economic as well as in cultural life. A country in need of population as New Zealand is might very profitably get into touch with some of these displaced European groups, with a view to shaping plans of migration and settlement —using the last-mentioned term in the broadest sense, as covering almost any desirable economic activity offering advantage to the migrants and to the country in which they might find new homes. It should be possible in any case to shape plans of this kind in collaboration with industrial and other groups in Britain. Organised and sustained effort by the Dominion Settlement Association in promoting and forwarding actual enterprise on these lines might be expected to produce, within a reasonable period, results eminently worth while. Certainly much more is likely to be accomplished in these ways than by the most eloquent word pictures of what must be expected to happen by the year 2,040, if something else does not happen sooner, in a land of dwindling population. v

AN EARLY ELECTION. PREDICTIONS that the general election will take place well before the end of next month find strong confirmation in observations made by the Chief Government Whip (Mr R. McKeen) at a meeting in Wellington on Wednesday night. As he is reported, Mr McKeen said the general election would take place earlier than most people thought and that it was possible the supplementary roll would close within the next three weeks. This, of course, would imply a rather earlier termination of the session of Parliament and issue of the writs. Mr McKeen is as well placed as most people to know when the election will take place and his reported observations tend to support the prediction that the polling date probably will be Wednesday, October 26. If that is intended, it seems likely that the session may conclude by the end of the week after next. In the election of 1935, polling took place in the European electorates on November 27, and in the Maori electorates on the preceding day. An early election is likely to meet with fairly general approval, more especially since it is clear that the Social Security Bill is likely to be the only important legislation dealt with by Parliament this session. If a dissolution is taken in the middle of this month, or shortly afterwards, at least about five weeks would be available for campaigning, with the election set down for October 26. The principal point to be noted meantime, in view of the possibilities raised, is that the supplementary rolls may close rather sooner than was expected. Electors should note this fact and personally make sure of their own enrolment. The matter is one in which it is wise neither to take anything for granted nor to rely upon second-hand information.