GRAVE DANGER

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 139, 16 June 1930, Page 11

GRAVE DANGER

IN NORTH QUEENSLAND

ANTI-ITALIAN FEELING

J (From "Tho Post's" Representative.) 1 . SYDNEY, 12th Jubc. In North Queensland at the present time there are all the ingredients for a first-ela?" flare up between Britons and Italians. Feeling is running very high over the question of labour on the sugar fields,'and there is said to be danger of open conflict when the time arives for the engagement of mill labour and labour for the cutting of the cane. The trouble appears to have started some weeks ago with tho formation ot the British Protection League, whose object was to protect the interests ot British subjects, particularly, the great number cf unemployed who, it was claimed, had been ousted by Italians. And -there' was some justification for the claim, too, for in one area last year the Italians were given an absolute monopoly of work. This caused a great deal of indignation, and aroused a bitter feeling against aliens. There were many conflicts between tho men of the two "races, :and then the trouble seemed to die down. Now the danger is more real than ever, and the recent removal of the Coat of Arms from tho office of of the Italian Vice-Consul was only one indication that feeling was running high. • ■ • All efforts to discover who was responsible for the so-called "insult to the Italian nation" have been in vain, but the Italian Consul took the matter so seriously that special investigators were sent to Innisfail by the Police De-. partment in Brisbane. These officers have not met with much success in their inquiries. They iind thmselves up against a double 'obstacle. . Britishers are not sympathetic to the Italian cause, and have refused to assist, and then, again, the Italians .are divided. Some are Fascist and some are antiFascist. And tho Fascists say that the anti-Fascists may have been responsible for the removal of the arms. The Consul, after inquiries on the spot, has exonerated the anti-Fascists, which suggests that he accuses Britons. This charge, naturally, is resented, particularly by the returned soldiers of the district. MANY FACTIONS CONCERNED. It will be seen, therefore, that so many factions are concerned that the position will be serious if trouble should occur. The latest information is that tho Italians have also formed an association with tho object of protecting their interests. The Italians say that they are determined to get back all the positions they held last year. To do this they will have to fight the many forces that are opposed to them, and these are of considerable' strength. When it, appeared likely that British subjects would secure work the unemployed of Queensland concentrated in the North, and arc now awaiting developments. This has complicated matters, and when it seemed likely that British workers would receive preference 600 Italians packed into a hall at Innisfail and entered a vigorous protest. The various speeches worked the audience up to a high state of excitement, but as there was a large number of police present the proceedings were or- . dorly. The meeting decided to ask the Commonwealth and State Governments to see that Italians who had been permitted .to settle in Australia should have the same right as British subjects when farmers gave contracts to cut cane, and to ask the Australian Workers' Union to see that Italian members had the same rights as British, workers. One speaker said that Italians had already been conquered in the South Johnstoue field, where 75 per cent, of tho men employed were British. Italians in the North of Queensland were being overcome by an avalanche of British preference. He claimed Jthat the British Preference League did not represent Australian, public opinion, but only the opinion of a few Australians, who were "dogs in the manger." Sugar interests regret that so much attention should be focusscd on the Northern fields at a time when the question of a renewal of the sugar embargo is under discussion and the Southern States are ringing with a cry for cheaper sugar, which will be impossible if the embargo is not removed. The Preference League on the other hand points out that if the foreigners are allowed to retain the hold they already have there will be no need for the embargo, the object of which is to protect the White Australia policy.