IMMIGRATION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 302, 15 September 1908, Page 7

IMMIGRATION.

CANADA'S SELECTIVE PROCESS. (nV TELECEAPH—rEESS ASSOCIATION— COPTItIGUT.) ' Ottawa, September 12. One thousand and thirty-one immigrants were deported from Canada, and 486 wero refused admission, during a period of six months. THE AUSTRALIAN ATTITUDE. IMMIGRATION IN NEW SOUTH WALES. While Canada has too much immigration, Australia has too little. Most of tho London papers, led by "The Times," have lately been driving home to Australians the argument that tho price of exclusion of coloured races must be a liberal immigration of white , people. "Tho Empire (says "Tho Times"j can hold empty spaces for Australia only if she will do her utmost to utilise •them." Therefore, "The Times" asks for a conscientious effort on Australia's part to sot aside (he jealousies between tho States and tho Commonwealth which now hamper the needed stream of immigrants, and which dangerously retard the peopling of tho Australian Continent. The same argument was enunciated on August 31 by the "Sydney Morning Horald," which also supplied some interesting. figures bearing on the actual position of immigration and population, and offered some opinions as to why the States and tho Commonwealth do not co-operato to secure immigrants. In the first place, the "Sydney Morning Herald" admits that the New South Wales State immigration policy has failed. "The object of such a policy is not merely to import a number of settlers partly at tho cost of the State, but to retain them after arrival, and by their coming to increase the population. This is just what is not happening. First of all, the number of assisted immigrants is ridiculously small, and even then they are -not causing that addition to tho population which evon their small numbers would seem to warrant. During the second quarter of tho current year there was an excess of births over deaths in New South Wales of 6203, and thero were 579 assisted immigrants landed during the period. It might under such oircum' tances be naturally assumed that the population had increased by at least 6782 during the quarter. Instead of this happening, however, thero was an increase of but 7-16, the excess of departures over arrivals having reached 5457. It is a fair presumption that the greater proportion of tho 5457 of departures consisted'of adult males,'certainly of adults; while there remained 748 babes. Fropa theso figures it is clear enough that there is something radically wrong . . . If we take tho first five years of federation we find that the Commonwealth only gained an excess of a paltry G576 of immigrants over emigrants. In that poriod it is true that New South Wales gained 34,726 peoplo chiefly at _ tho expense of other States, notably _ Victoria, which lost 55,039 during tho period indicated. But Queensland, South Australia, and Tasmania also lost population by an excess of departures during tho first quinquonnium of union. "A clause of the Federal Constitution empowers the Federal Parliament to deal with immigration. So far all Federal Ministers have done has been to talk. Grandiloquent phrases have been made use of, but not one practical step has beon taken in the direction of filling up our blank spaces. The reason of this apathy is not far to seek. A vigorous immigration policy has never found favour with the Labour party. That section, fearing possible competition in the labour market betweon their supporters and the newcomers, have made it their business to sco that thoj'e will be no newcomers. They do not appear to appreciate the fact that while inaction to-day may seem unimportant, it will come irresistibly home to us in tho next quarter of a century. Now we are safe. Botwecn us and any possible aggresGor lies tho British Navy, incomparably superior to any other floating force that could possibly bo brought to bear against us. But other nations are building navies, and as years go on tho strain on tho Empire may prove too great. Meanwhile ench year is adding its millions to the teeming populations of the East and of the AVest. Even now they are threatening to burst tho bonds of mere territorial limits. No power on earth can hold them back. Liko water, the people of the world will sooner or later find their levelwill seek out thoso counlnes that have more room than their own—and with resistless pressure from behind will break down tho puny barriers that obstruct their free ingress. "Australia is destined- to bo filled up, as ara also all other empty spaces. We regard the rate of increase in our population as being remarkably slow; yet it has in this State averaged over two per cent, sinco federation. If the increase in the world at large is only half as rapid, then some 14,000,000 new arrivals have each year to find elbow-room, and the increase goes on compounding. To-day Australians can say who will share their heritage with them. They can say whether a century hence Australians are to be yellow-skinned and almond-eyed or a fair Aryan stock. Tho day will arriveperhaps soon—when uninvited our guests will come possibly with rifles in their hands and battleships at their backs. Tho question is, whether we should not divido our heritage now rather than by further delay allow othors to make the necessary partition for us. Tho peoplo at large should tell the Federal Government that they will tolerate no more procrastinuation; that it' the Labour party stands in tho way, then that party has ceased to have the interest of Australia at stake, and must go down. But in reality Labour has nothing to fear, but everything to gain, from a vigorous policy of immigration. If Labour succeeds somo day in bringing about the communistic millennium that is its present objective, then it at least should see that within tho borders of the Commonwealth is a sufficiency of force to repel outside interference with its earthly paradise."