FOREIGN INFLUX.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18263, 23 December 1924, Page 15

FOREIGN INFLUX.

CONCERN IN AUSTRALIA. (PIOU OJB OWM COMMfOKDMT.) SYDNEY, December 17. There is considerable concern in Australia at tho rapidly increasing influx of Southern Europeans. The restrictions imposed by America greeted attention to tins continent, and far some months now tho numbers of new arrivals have been dwelling Q It alia a settlers in North Queenilaad hare in the past done very wdl. and have mad© admirable citizens, and it is natural that they should attractoontsiderablo numbers of their compatriots whom they are able to assure M «"* nloyment or other prospects. But apart from Italians, there has been a ef largo numbers of Greckt and Jugo Slavs arriving hero, many with wry little money and no prospects. Jno inevitable accessions to the ranks of unemploved from these sourcee havo cau*» cl the Federal Government to take the important step of fixing a monthly quota, for Jugo Slavs and Greeks. This is an entirely new departure in immigration restrictions, and it ia generally believed that it will be very elastic in the caso of any prospectifv© settlers who are able to show that they have either capital or definite prospects. Tho object, tb is believed, is as much lo protect the prospective settlers as to protect Australia. Arrangements have been made that passport vises for Australia in favour of Jugo Slavs and Greeks thall not exceed ICO a month of each nationality, and preference is to be given in those who naive a knowledge of English and have sonio capital or intend to join close relations. So far the restriction has not l>cen extended to Italians, although only last week a large Italian vessel which arrived with 724 sot tiers from the Mediterranean included amongst this number 360 Italians as against 140 Jugo Slavs and 120 Greeks. This vessel, the Palermo, is 8000* tons, i and lias boen specially equipped to servo ; as an emigrant ship between Italy find Australia. This is her first trip, and ths whole of the passenger hpare is given over to the migrants, who ."-Ir-cp together in largo airy compartment.*-, arranged according to their nationalities. The officers of th« Palermo consider her to bo one of tho most up-to-date immigrant ships afloat, and great pains arc taken to keep the vessel clean. When at sea all the passengers arc mustered on deck in the morning, while tho I eloeping compartments arc thoroughly cleansed. Captain Chicea, commandcf of the vessel, said that during the voyage be had £6500 entrusted to him to bo paid out to the Italian migrant* at the end of the voyage. Tho Italian Government insisted that every prospective migrant to Australia should have a* least £-10 over his passage money., which amounted to £37. An Italian who wished to migrato to Australia, therefore, must have saved at least £BO. There conditions, ho considered, ensured an industrious and thrifty cla&» of immigrant for Australia. Officers of the vessel say that if inducement offers passenjrer services to Australia will be greatly improved. There are already three large Italian liners in "addition to the Palermo trading to Australia. Tf alterations similar to those effected on the Palermo are carried out, as is prob- | aiile, on the other rressels, tho fouj j steamers alone will be canable of hring- • ing 7300 immigrants to Australia in tho J course of one year.