IMMIGRATION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 37, 12 August 1912, Page 2

IMMIGRATION.

Matters are not going altogether smoothly in connection with the immigration wave about 'which so much is being said and written. Ardent advocates of the policy of doing everything possible to secure the adequate peopling of this big country complain that the Federal and State Governments are too lukewarm in carrying out what they approve of thoroughly in speech. It is alleged that improper attention is being paid to persons who are opposed to immigration because the^ see in the present movement a capitalistic device to glut the labour market. The frequent official reply i& that difficulty in getting shipping accommodation is delaying matters. From other quarters one hears words of warning as .to a need for much greater care in the medical examination of those who are admitted to this community. It is said; freely that despite the precautions now exeroised, we are getting a large number of persons who are being sent out in the hope that the Australian climate will put off the day when ad vanoed consumption or other disease will claim its victim in death. Some heed is being given to these lepresent&tions, and it has just been announced thatcloser care will be used. Another allegation is that we are getting an unduly , largo proportion of immigrants of criminal inclinations and habits. A couple of newspapers make a practice of setting up big headlines to mark cases if offenders are described as immigrants. There has just been compiled in New South Wales an official return bearing on this aspect. It bliows that during the kst three year*, there have been convicted on indictment 71 persons who were newcomers to Australia. The list comprises 31 Enplishmen, 8 Scotchmen, 5 Irishmen, 3 Americans, 4 Germans, 2 Russians,' 3 Norwegians, 1 Japanese, 3 South Africans, 8 New Zeahmdeis, 1 fi-om Newfoundland, 1 Indian, and 1 Italian.