ONLY BEGINNING

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21178, 30 July 1940, Page 7

ONLY BEGINNING

DOMINION DEVELOPMENT MR SEMPLE ON POSSIBILITIES POPULATION AS DEFENCE (By Telegraph.—Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, Monday “There are people who think that we have reached the limit of the development of our resources in New Zealand, that we should now accept a stalemate and stay put. It gives me cold shivers to think of this insane defeatist attitude,” declared the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, in an interview. “We have a huge country here, practically empty, and if we are not willing to develop it, someone else will. “We must have more production and more population. The two must go hand in hand. I know every inch of this country, and I know its real value from the point of view of production. I sometimes feel dismayed when I hear people talk about ceasing our activities in construction and production. This country is only now reaching the fringe of its possible development.” Mr Semple was speaking with special reference to land drainage schemes at Ashburton and in the Lake Ellesmere district, both of which he hopes will greatly increase the productivity of the province. Mr Semple said scientific records show how irrigation had worked wonders in other countries, increasing the productivity of land five, or even eight, times. Large areas of Canterbury, Central Otago and Marlborough could share in those same benefits. “Only an increased population will enable us to develop our resources to the maximum,” said Mr Semple. “We have a priceless heritage here and it is our duty to develop it. Population is the surest defence for our country. Another million and aquarter people and we would be able to defend it against any attacker, but we are living in a fool’s paradise if we think we can defend it with a mere handful of people.”