ITALIANS IN AUSTRALIA

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29820, 12 May 1962, Page 18

ITALIANS IN AUSTRALIA

Only 18 From Pacific (N.Z. Press Asm.—Copyright) CANBERRA. May 10. A Sydney Judge appeared to have been misinformed by counsel on migration to Australia of Italians from New Caledonia, the Minister for Immigration (Mr Alexander Downer) said yesterday. He said that 18. not 300. Italians from New Caledonia had been allowed to remain tn Australia.

[Judge Holden said, when sentencing an Italian yesterday. that 300 Malians of the poorest type, including murderers, had been given the chance to enter the country from New Caledonia.] Mr Downer said in the House of Representatives that 62 Italians who had had labour difficulties in New Caledonia mines entered Australia on transit visas on the way to Italy. Forty-four had continued their journey to Italy in about November, 1954. The other 18 had asked if they could remain in Australia. Their request had been backed by the Italian ConsulGeneral in Sydney. Good character reports were received from the company for which they had worked.

On January 14, 1955, the Immigration Department approved their request on condition that the Italians satisfy normal immigration requirements and that they undertake to remain in essential work for two years. “To the best of my knowledge, these men have abided by these conditions,’* Mr Downer said.