GROWING CONCERN

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 146, 17 December 1924, Page 5

GROWING CONCERN

QUOTA SYSTEM PROPOSED.

(FROM OCR 01VN COIIRESPONDENT.)

SYDNEY, 10th December

Thoro is: considerable concern in AusHralia at the rapidly increasing influx of southorn Europeans. The restrictions imposed by America have directed attention to this continent, and for some months now the numbers of new arrivals have been swelling quickly. Italian settlers in North Queensland have in the past done very well, and have been admirable citizens, and it is natural that they should attract considerable numbers of their compatriots whom they are able to assure of employment or | other prospects. But apart from Italians, there has been a prospect of large numbers of Greeks and Jugo-Slavs arriving here, many with very little money and no prospects. The inevitable accessions to the ranks of unemployed from these sources have caused the Federal Government to take the important step of fixing a monthly quota for Jugo-Slavs and Greeks. This is an entirely new departure in immigration restrictions, and it is generally believed that it will be very elastic in the case of any prospective settlers who are able to show that they have either' capital or definite prospects. The object, it is believed, is as much to protect the prospective settlers as to protect Australia.

Arrangements have been made that transport vises for Australia in favour of Jugo-Slavs and Greeks shall not exceed 100 a month of each nationality, and preference is to be given to those who have a knowledge of English and have some capital or intend to join close relations.

So far the restriction has not been extended to Italians, although only last week a large Italian vessel, which arrived with 724 settlers from the Mediterranean, included amougst this number 360 Italians as against 140 Jugo-Slavs and 120 Greeks. This vessel, the Palermo, is 8000 tons, and has been specially equipped to serve as an emigrant ship between Italy and Australia. This is her first trip, and the whole of the passenger space is given over to the migrants, who sleep together in large ;airy compartments, arranged according to their nationalities.

The officers of the Palermo consider her to be one of the most up-to-date immigrant ships afloat, and great pains are taken to keep the vessel clean. When at sea all the passengers are mustered on deck in the morning while the sleeping compartments are thoroughly cleansed.

Captain Chiesa, commander of the vessel, said that during the voyage he had £6500 entrusted to him, to be paid out to the Italian migrants at the end o£ the voyage. The Italian Government insisted that every prospective emigrant to Australia should have at least £40 over his passage money/ which amounted to £37. An Italian who wished to migrate to Australia, therefore, must have saved at least £8o! These conditions, he considered, ensured an industrious and thrifty class of. immigrant for Australia. Officers of the vessel say that if inducement offers passenger services to Australia will be greatly improved.

_ There ' are already throe large Italian liners, in.addition to the Palermo trading to Australia. If alterations similar to those effected on the Palermo are carried out, as is probable, on the other vessels, the four steamers alone will be capable_ of bringing 7500 immigrants to Australia in the course of one°year.