IN ALIEN HANDS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 220, 13 June 1930, Page 9

IN ALIEN HANDS

Queensland Cane Farms COMMUNITY BASIS Northern Sugar Industry By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Rec. June 12, 8.25 p.m.) Sydne; June 12. A message from Townsville, Queensland, states that derisive comment has been,occasioned by the statement of Mr. F. M. Forde, Acting-Minister of Customs, that there was no risk of Northern Queensland becoming Italianised, for at least 75 per cent, of the mill field workers were British.

Local statistics disclose that the whole of the sugar industry north of Townsville is in the hands of aliens. As an instance of the steady growth of the alien population of Northern Queensland, it is stated that in the Ayr district, forty-three cane farms, valued at a million and a half sterling, have passed from British to Italian control or ownership. The Italians are working on a community basis. Sixty farms in the Tully district, which hitherto had been leased to British subjects, also have passed into the hands of aliens. IRRITATION IN ITALY Australians’ Attitude • — (“Times’* Cables) (Rec. June 12, 8.25 p.m.) London, June 11. The news from Queensland has naturally caused some irritation in Italy. Writing in the “Popolo d’ltalia,” under the heading “Egotism Overseas,” Signor Arnaldo Mussolini, the Duce’s brother, deciare's: ' “The agitation | against Italian labourers is symptomatic of the attitude of the Dominions. Australia is a big country, and work in the interior is disliked by Australians, nor will they allow other people to do it. British unemployed do not care to go either to Australia or Canada. They prefer to remain in England and receive the dole This is contrary to the old noble traditions of Britain.”