FEARS GROUNDLESS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 108, 3 November 1937, Page 9

FEARS GROUNDLESS

ALIEN MIGRATION

COMMONWEALTH POSITION

(From "The Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, October 28. ■ Official records on alien migration do not support the claims that there is any danger of foreigners affecting the British preponderance of Australia's population. '■'■■■_. The position is being closely watched by the Federal Government, but no alarm is felt and there is no immediate likelihood of further restrictions. Some Ministers hold the view that as long as alien migration is limited through the present strict regulations it would be unwise to risk the displeasure of foreign nations by imposing prohibitions. ~, .. * The possibility of foreign dilution of the population is at present negligible. The last Census showed that 99.1 per cent, of the Australian population was of British nationality. Complaints that the permanent foreign population is increasing rapidly are groundless. During last financial year the excess of South European arrivals over departures was 1963, compared with 7079 ten years ago. These included Italians, Greeks, and Yugoslavs. During 1936-37, 2425 .landing permits were issued to Italians, 1421 being to dependent relatives. Women and children represented 36 per cent, of the number of Southern Europeans to whom landing permits were issued, while -70 per cent, of the remainder proposed "to take up land work. ■_■< The Queensland Government has been critical of the number of Italians entering the State, but the 1936-37 permit records show that fewer intend to sett'.e in Queensland than in New South Wales or Victoria. -