Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-08-07

measure. In that continent, about
the size of the United States, lie vast
regions where only the foot of the
lonely explorer has been set and
there are Businesses where none but
the bushmen has ventured. New
zealand and Tasmania and South
Africa also present vast tracts of un-
occupied land which invite develop
ment by the adventurous.
Imperial Conference Proposed
A plan now is being matured at
London whereby the two problems
may be solved: first, the problems
of congestion of people and unem-
ployment in the British Isles, and
second, the problem of getting peo-
! pie to develop the resources of the
rich dominions and colonies. 1t is
proposed that there shall be an i'm
perial conference at London to be
attended by representatives of the
dominions, Of capitalists, of the Ia
Dor unions and of others interested,
including, of course the British gov
ernment. Schemes will be discuss
ed for getting the surplus British
population to the unsettled and un-
developed lands of the Dominions.
1t is not easy to get people to
leave their accustomed dwelling
places even though those places be
only novels in city slums and even
though life be extraordinarily hard
because of lack of work. But it is
possible that the British govern
ment, through this imperial confer
ence, will work out q scheme whic h
Will, in effect, force the people out
to the Dominions-a course which,
in the long run, will be the best
for everyone concerned.
This could be done by a combina-
ton of actions: first, through CO.
| operation Of the Dominion govern
ments, land could be provided In
these outlying possessions either free
on a homestead basis similar to that
which caused the merican West to
! be settled, or at q low price with
long time payments; second, through
government aid in transportation OF
the people to the new lands, and
| third, through the stoppage of the
unemployment doles. The last mea-
sure would force the people to dc
something to avoid downright starv-
alton while the first two provisions
would provide an avenue to better
times.
This may at first seem to be pure
! ly British question, but it has an in
innate relation to the American
people. The United States has beer
the great storehouse of the world
for raw materials, the products oi
the farm and the mine as we'll as
the factory. For Great Britain tc
adopt a plan which will send mil
lions of people to lands naturally as
rich and resourceful as our own, will
produce a situation where the dom.
inant position of the United State.
will be challenged. With Canada
and Australia coming into produc
ton on large scale as a result O
this access of population, American
products will have added competi
tion. Also, 1t must be remembered
that the home land of Great Brit
ain will give tariff preference to tn,
products of her Dominions-doe
now, in fact-and that therefore th'
market for American goods will b.
diminished by the extent to whicl
the British Dominions and to thei
production.
1t may be that the plan will no
work, but present indications ar
that it must because of the intoler
able industrial situation which OBJ
tains in the congested English cities
It means that the American peopl
must increase their efficiency, elm
mate waste, and buckle down
harder work