New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-18
By :. ROY WEAVER

Nv Of opinion are found among
Canadians as 10 the extent
Of immigration into the Dominion
after the war. there is fairly gen
oral agreement that the progress
and prosperity Of this country will
depend in large measure upon the
success Of its colonization policies.
The position OF Canada to-day is
like that Of manufacturer with a
big plant, cntailing heavy overhead
charges, who is forced TO operate at
fractional capacity because Of short
cage of labor. Rapid and wise land
settlement offers the solution Of al
most every great economic problem
before the Canadian people at the
present time.
The question is now receiving at
tention by the Dominion and provln-
cial governments, working IN CO.
operation. and it is recognized that
the old haphazard and unscientiiic
methods Of securing immigrants and
settling them on the land have been
rendered obsolete by the war. The
best thought of the nation has been
devoted to the problem, and new
policies are emerging. Especially
will the effort be made to secure
English-speaking settlers by offer
ing them more than the inducement
of ownership of homesteads, and the
programmes Of the several govern
ments cannot fail to be peculiarly at
tractive to the farmers of the West
ern states of the American Republic.
1t is a commonplace remark that
the prosperity of the Dominion is
dependent upon its annual Western
crop. In these days of expanding
foreign trade Canada, much more
than the United States, is in danger
of failing to realize the full impor-
lance Of its domestic commerce. The
home market must be maintained
and expanded. 1t is good that our
foreign trade in manufactures should
be developed, but such foreign trade
must be built upon a substantial do
nestle trade foundation. The latter
can only be secured by the eXpan-
sion of our agricultural and extrac-
tive industries. Production is the
first commandment in Canada's new
business creed, and the second is
Thrift. Canadians are coming to
see. as they have not done clearly
before. that Agriculture is the par
cnt Of Manufacture. and that Pro-
due means primarily the efficient or
ganization and utilization Of the nat
ural resources Of the Dominion.
Need Of Settlers
Is imperative
The situation in the Canadian
West affords an interesting proof Of
the imperative need Of settlers. The
West has suffered because it as
sumed excessive obligations in an
ticipation of a more rapid increase
of population than it actually Sc
cured. For several years prior TO
1914 Western Canada experienced
phenomenal influx of settlers. Con-
sentative public programmes de-
signed 10 provide for moderate
growth Of population proved made
quate. For a time there was waste,
when public officials were cautious.
The demands for services increased
more rapidly than they could be met
by moderate development policies.
Public opinion soon insisted on big,
ambitious programmes for public
works, etc The West became reck-
less through a desire to be truly
economical. Il had too much
vision"
Reaction came: it started in 1914,
before there was any thought Of
war, except among those responsible
for the world conflict, but the war
did give the West a decent excuse.
IL is true that the international sit
uation greatly aggravated, although
IL did not initiate, the collapse.
There was liquidation. and it was
searching, Incorporating and I'M
sparing. The West paid the pen
atty for failure 10 observe that in
the development o. cities and indus
tries dependent upon agriculture it
must keep pace with, and not out
run, the settlement Of its farm areas.
To-day the cities Of Western Canada
are burdened with overhead obliga-
tons which have necessitated drastic
curtailment Of further capital ex-
penditures. Reduced populations are
finding the debt load very heavy, al
though the other costs Of municipal
government are being kept % min
inum.
Public ownership enterprises were
popular during the boom days, and
IL IL exceptional 10 find a city on the
prairies west Of Winnipeg which