"VICTIMS OF THE WAR."

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 95, 23 April 1928, Page 9

"VICTIMS OF THE WAR."

MIGRANTS TO AUSTRALIA.

MANY BEING ASSISTED.

} COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT'S POLICY. "We have not slackened off in our immigration policy, and are bringing out an average of 35,000 assisted immigrants per annum to Australia, while the yearly total of arrivals over departures for the Commonwealth is between 60,000 and 70,000."

This statement was made by Major A. Allen, who is returning to Australia by the Niagara after having reorganised the Commonwealth's immigration department in London.

Major Allen works under Australia's Development and Migration Commission, which has headquarters in Australia and a director in London. This commission was only set up 18 months ago for the purpose of administering the fund provided by the British Government for migration to Australia.

"We do not bring people out indiscriminately," said Major Allen.' "Development had to. precede migration. The commission makes sure in the first place that the work is ready for the migrants when they arrive. The class of people most apxious to migrate to any of the overseas dominions are married men with families, whose regular employment has been adversely affected by the war, and who have been unable to tibtain satisfactory employment since. They are not easy people to place, but the majority of them are honestly anxious to obtain regular employment w.ith a fair chance for their families, and would go anywhere at all where such prospects obtain. We call them the 'victims of the war.' I might say' that the greater portion of immigrants sent to Australia are nominees cither of individuals or organisations, guaranteed in each case a year's employment or maintenance. They are examined by a selection staff, records are taken, and our own ofbcei's are now doing the medical examinations. As long as the nomination is recommended from Australia, the London oflice has only to ascertain whether the migrant is employable, and would make a desirable Australian citizen."

Major Allen, speaking of the New Zealand ollice, commented upon the fact that from his observations the High Commissioner and his staff were doing everything possible to see tha>t New Zealand received the proper class of immigrant. In regard to farm labour, he said that there was a difficulty in getting general farm workers to migrate, but inexperienced farm hands, who had been employed at seasonal farm work, were offering in greater numbers than the Commonwealth could absorb.