RUSH OF MIGRANTS

Grey River Argus, 18 February 1932, Page 5

RUSH OF MIGRANTS

Back to Britain OTHERS SENDING BACK COMPLAINTS. (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.j LONODN. February 16. In the House of Commons, the Secretary fo r the Dominions Rt. Hon. J. H. Thomas, informed Mr Leckie (National Labour) that he had received a joint memorial from ex-service men in Victoria, and oversea settlers at Murrabit, reciting their grievances, but he was not in a position to anticipate the findings of the Royal Commission thereon. Mr Somerville: If you cannot relieve the Australian. Government of responsibility, do you not remember that the Home Government encouraged these men to sign contracts, and therefore a distinct liability exists? LIABILITY DENIED.

Mr Thomas: None sympathises more than the Government with the migrants ’ difficulties, but it cannot accent responsibility which is the Dominions. ’ Air MacPherson said that members were continually receiving migrants’ i letters. If the statements therein were true, the Government ought to : take action, in the migrants’ interests. | Mr Thomas: I receive more letters I than anyone. I have gone to extreme I measures in making inquiries and approaching relief institutions, but cannot accept a responsibility which in the end I cannot fulfil. Mr MacPherson: The feeling of the country is that the Government should take definite action.

responsibility only to send EMIGRANTS! Mr Thomas: You will get some measure of the problem, if you keep in mind that while for 20 years there wa s a n average of 200.000 migrants departmg, now more are returning than are leaving. Our responsibilities ended after giving facilities assisting their transportation. FREE TRADER’S POINT DISLIKED Mr Neil Mac Lean: I s it not plain that the number now returning from Australia, a protected country, to Britain, a free trade country— The Speaker intervened and prevented Mr Mac Lean completing the sentence.