RESTRICTIVE IMMIGRATION.

Feilding Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 142, 15 December 1902, Page 2

RESTRICTIVE IMMIGRATION.

♦■ . Telegraph.Press Association. Copyright London, December 13. The economist newspaper says that the exclusion of the hatters is inconsistent with the principles laid down at the Imperial Conference, which aimed at the maximum facilities being given to Imperial inter-com-munication, and a maximum identity in the legal rights enjoyed in each part of the Empire by the citizens. If the law is enforced in Sydney, it will form a dangerous encouragement to the South African labour party to shut Australians out of the Band. Sydney, December 14. The detention of the hatters has given rise to a deal of adverse criticism in certain quarters. Sir John See, State Premier, has strongly protested to Sir Edmund Barton that the detention of white labour imported under contract for a epecial industry is opposed to the spirit of the Immigration Restriction Act. Sir Edmund Barton, after alengthy consideration of the case last night, ordered the release of the hatters. Melbourne, This Day. Sir E. Barton, in a minute concerning the hatters' difficulty, points out that no application for exemption can be made till the tenth. The application was opposed by the President and Secretary of the Australasian Association of Felt Hatters. Sir E. Barton expressed regret that the application had been made so late.