MIGRATION PROBLEMS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 17 August 1928, Page 7

MIGRATION PROBLEMS

“NO ROOM FOR ENGLISHMEN.”

AUSTRALIAN BARRIERS. WAGES ABOVE REAL VALUE. ■ United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) (Australian I'ress Association.) LONDON, Aug. 10. As the outcome of extracts from Dean luge's article urging the Dominions to support immigration of British stocx, the Dean has received numerous letters and cuttings on which he bases a lengthy article in the “Evening Standard'’ headed “No Room for Englishmen.” / fie describes the information from Australia as most disquieting so far as the prospects .or young Englishmen are concerned. V\ riters declare that the onicial encouragement or migrants is misleading. Unemployment in Australia iis almost as bad as in England, and while a sturdy English lad would he welcomed on the land lie probably would be workress by the time he was 21 years of age. Dean Inge quotes a letter from an educated man, who has been fifty years on the land in New' South \\ alee, and who says: “What is the use of sending migrants to this country while it is a criminal olfence to work except on terms which are often impossible for would-be workers to obtain?” The Dean declares that the burden of complaints is that labour unions, by strikes and pressure upon legislatures, have forced up wages above the real value of the work done. Consequently there is reluctame to employ labour except in businesses where its cost can be passed on. Thus widespread unemployment follows. in order to prevent the public evading tiie necessity of hiring labour at fancy prices, ridiculous and vexatious laws in restraint of liberty are being passed, tariffs are higher and higher, and farmers and others are obliged to buy dear and sell cheap. If a referendum were taken there would probab.y be a majority forbidding immigration entirely. Dean Inge says it is not easy to recon ile this picture with that of the French journalist Betoit, who wonders why Australians are willing to accept the type of immigrants travelling on liis 1 oat, namely, Russians, Albanians, Jews, and Southern Italians. Dean inge adds that it is impossible to resist the conclusion that the labour movement has definitely ended the great period of British expansion which began in the reign of George 111. In a new toimtry like Australia the privileged workman can enjoy temporary prosperity behind a Chinese wall of his own construction, but development is cheeked. The population of the world is clamouring for standing room, while the population of Australia' remains onetenth of what it should be under free competition. Can this Chinese wall, asks the writer, he kept as a permanent barrier? History suggests that sooner or later the outer barbarians always break through.

SOUTHERN EUROPEAN MIGRATION. FAVOURED RY WEST AUSTRALIAN FARMERS.

Received 10.20 a,.an. to-day. PERTH, Aug. 17

The Primary Producers’ C’onfenence passed a resolution in favour of unrestricted. Southern European migration, from which rural labour could be recruited. The West Australian Government recently decreed that money advanced to. farmers- should not l>e used in employing foreigners.