FORMER ENEMY NATIONALS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 140, 25 March 1948, Page 3

FORMER ENEMY NATIONALS

IMMIGRATION TO AUSTRALIA CANBERRA, March 24 Nationals of former enemy countries—ltaly, Rumania, Bulgaria and Hungary—are to be admitted to Australia as immigrants, subject to employment conditions Announcing this to-night, the Minister of Immigration (Mr A. A. Caivvell) said the decision followed the ratification of the peace treaties with these countries. First preference would go to migrants suitable and willing to work in rural industry.Second preference would be granted to those who would be employed in work helping to relieve the housing shortage. / Third preference would go to those who would work on national undertakings in rural districts, such as water conservation, electricity projects and road and rail construction.

Mr Calwell said a strict security test would apply in every case. To ensure against migrants drifting to other occupations it would be a condition of admission that the migrant would engage in the class of work for which he was nominated, and would remain in the district to which he was assigned for two years. At the end of two years those who had proved satisfactory migrants would be allowed to remain in Australia permanently.