The Necessity for a Proper Outlet: Possibilities of Hokkaido Tokio, June 3. outlet for population is one of the most seri ous problems that this country is faced with, according to the report of the Immigration Sub-committee! of "the new Imperial Economic Board, which has just submitted its recommendations to the major body for consideration.
Fully recognizing the importance of the problem, the sub-committes has drawn up a comprehensive list of suggestions, the execution of which is believed to be necessary, if a successful emigration policy' is to be inaugurated, from the point of view of the administration and of the' emigrants themselves.
Looking at the problem from a. domestic view-point, the sub-committee recommends a more extensive emigration to the northern districts known as Hokkaido, which at present has a population of 2,400,000, whereas space can be found there for over 4,000,000.
But it is clearly indicated that little success, would attend any efforts to people these districts, unless special attention is paid to the needs of settlers there, partularly in the matter of communications and banking facilities.
The Committe therefore recommends that communications betwee: the mainland and Hokkaido should be speeded.up and developed, that the railway system should be extended, either by Government enterprise or by subsidy to private concerns, and that railway freights should be reduced to the lowest practicable level.
At the same time the estab li ment of a special colonial bank is recommended.
For the settlers themselves, the authorities are urged to consider means of more favourable terms of settlement and to encourage the setting up of industrial guilds.
The lack of knowledge as to conditions and possibilities in Hok-kido among the Japanese people generally is pointed out, and those appointed to supervise emigration are recommended to make the dists better known by means of Judicious propaganda.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.