230 THE LAND AND ITS PROBLEMS 



men, women and children living on or by the land) is only 

 13,400,000, compared with the agricultural population of 

 20,000,000 in Germany, with its area only one sixty-fourth 

 that of our Empire ; or with 18,000,000 in France on an area 

 one-seventieth the size of our possessions, and a smaller total 

 population than that of the United Kingdom. The gravest 

 indictment of our policy (or want thereof) in regard to land 

 and population lies in the fact that although we possess one- 

 quarter of the land of the world, our Empire is not self- 

 supporting. If these facts are once thoroughly understood, 

 they constitute the strongest plea for a degree of organization 

 and guidance of migration far beyond anything hitherto 

 attempted. 



The Royal Colonial Institute has done its best during the 

 past four years to urge this plea, and unless the needed degree 

 of organization and guidance is achieved, it is quite useless 

 to talk about the white population of the British Empire 

 reaching the grand figure of 200,000,000 by the end of the 

 present century. The best of our population will continue 

 to stream into foreign countries and be lost to the Empire 

 for ever. 



NEED OF CENTRAL AUTHORITY 



The question of the relation of the Imperial Government 

 to the Overseas Governments in regard to settlement is one 

 of great importance. 



Having just completed a tour in Canada, New Zealand and 

 Australia, and having studied the conditions prevailing in 

 those countries, I state unhesitatingly that it is essential for 

 the Imperial Government itself to take the initiative in 

 organizing a settlement policy. We are parting with man 

 power — our greatest asset — we are transferring it to other 

 parts of the Empire : not only so, but the Imperial Govern- 

 ment will have to provide large loans if effective settlement 

 on a large scale is to be achieved. Therefore the Imperial 

 Government has an indisputable right to guide population 



