Mr, F, H. Macquisten, KO, member for the County of Argyle in the House of Commons, recently arrived in Austratia and had something to say in regard to the population or rather the tack of it in Australia, 'The visitor is greatly interested, in Immigration and have voiced the opinion that unless Australia's popul ton was increased largely, the result would be difficult to' forecast. Describing himself as a champion of the White Australia policy, Mr, Mac-listen said that he had been asiounded to see white men doing coolie Work at. Darwin, In a tropical country, st seemed to. him lo be entirely contrary to nature, and he doubled If any" but the temperate paris of Australia could ever be Seriously considered for settlement Jentirely. of while people. People could not be surprised, he intimated, fat the fact that European and other ations were commencing lo remind Australia that she was not utilizing hee empty northern and that such a condition of affairs was cot trary to natural justice, for Austral was not seriotply occupying her, lands, whilst many other nations were suffering severely from population pressure.
Apropos of Mr. Macquiscon's observations, as regards the matier of waste spaces Australia has (we distinct problems to. te solved by migration," There are vast empty oF sparsely populated arecs to be occupied and there is a need for an increased total population of the continent, In. the light of world-wide over production of primary products Jand the revival of European agriculture under the spur of economic nationalism, the settlement of mew areas in Australia is primarily a political issue, Seltlement, particularly in the north, has a'strategic importance and the obvious rejoinder to criticism that Australia is abusing her extensive territorial endowments. by eglect 10 develop them. Such settlement me evitably calle for migrants suited to ural occupations, butit can edntribute little to the increase of total popula ton and as the technique of primary Production advances the possibility increasing population by rural settlement must progressively decline.
is. felt in Australia that a. migration polley designed to increase the total population effectively depends on providing scope for trade fand secondary industries to expand. Population Increase since 1900 has been absorbed in that way, but con: dition have changed considerably in the last 35 years. reason of the development that has already taken place the scope for further development in the home market has been restricted. Satura~ tion point has already been ranchod In certain industries that already supply all the requirements of the home' market, In other industries further development and new indus sities awalt development in which many migrants could find employment fand in {uen increase the local market for primary producers. But In the final analysis the wealth of Australin de pends on the prosperity of primary Industries, and the purchase Australian exports by foreign Jeustomers depends to rear extent fon their ability to sell their manus factures in the Australian market,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.