MIGRANTS IN AUSTRALIA

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28479, 8 January 1958, Page 9

MIGRANTS IN AUSTRALIA

Minister Replies To Criticism

(Rec. 9.45, p.m.) CANBERRA, January 7. The Immigration Minister (Mr Athol Townley) today categorically denied charges by a visiting Englishman that information provided by the Immigration Branch in Australia House, London, was inaccurate. He was replying to Mr Robert Beattie, who has come to Australia to prepare a report for the Imperial Relations Jrust on why 20.000 British migrants to Australia have returned since the war.

Mr Beattie claimed that one of the main reasons was that the migrants had been misinformed before leaving London. Mr Townley said that the information furnished by Australia House was accurate, up-to-date and comprehensive. An independent survey by a representative of an Adelaide newspaper recently had shown that migrants were informed of conditions in Australia and that those who complained either did not listen to the information given or did not read the material supplied.

AUSTRALIA AND RUSSIA

New Year Messages Exchanged

CANBERRA, January 7 Diplomatic observers in Canberra are showing keen interest in an announcement late today that Russian leaders and the Prime Minister (Mr Menzies) exchanged New Year messages a few days ago. There is speculation that this exchange may foreshadow a renewal of diplomatic representation between Australia and Russia. The Soviet leaders, Messrs Voroshilov, Bulganin and Khrushchev sent a message of “congratulations and good wishes to. Mr Menzies and the people of Australia.”

In his reply. Mr Menzies said: “Given genuine goodwill on all sides, it may not be too much to hope that the coming year will be a happier one in international relations.”

Similar messages were exchanged with the New Zealand Government.

Incident Regarded As Closed

(Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 6.

Britain considers closed last week’s incident in which a British Skymaster aircraft, flying from Dusseldorf to Singapore, wa« forced down and held four days in Albania.

A Foreign Office statement said it was clear that the aircraft, as a result of bad weather, was over Albania at the time of the incident, and that the crew were well treated by the Albanian authorities.