Alien Refugees’ Eyes on Australia

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 41, 18 February 1939, Page 8

Alien Refugees’ Eyes on Australia

40,000 APPLICATIONS SYDNEY, Feb. 10. More than 40,000 European refugees have applied for permits to land in Australia iu the last IS months, and the Department of the Interior is receiving about 2000 letters a week. “Applications are coming iu faster than we can deal with them," said tho .secretary of the department, Mr. Carrodus. “We aro allowing in only 5000 migrants a year, and those to whom permits arc being issued are being ‘hand-picked’ to ensure the introduction of desirable types."’

Mr. Carrodus said that in the Decern ber quarter of last year, permits for 1736 refugees had been approved by the Commonwealth Government. The Government's policy, providing for the admission of 15,000 European refugees in three years, did not take effect until the beginning of this year, and it was expected that about 5000 permits would be granted annually, though the Government would not insist on the exact number being adhered to so long as not more than 15,000 refugees had entered* the country by the end of the threeyear period. Many of the migrants to whom per mits were being issued, Mr. Carrodus added, were not Jews. A number of them were Sudeten Germans. No applications had been received so far from Republican Spaniards. Many wealthy refugees are entering j Australia with the intention of estab- J lishiug new industries here, including one who has already spent £7OOO iu starting the manufacture of a specially finished woollen fabric. Mr. Carrodus revealed this when outlining tho methods by which the Government is ‘ ‘ hand-picking' 7 a&ens who seek permits M:o enter Australia, but he said

that if the mass settlement of foreign Jews in the capital cities continued, the Federal Govermcnt would take action to break up the groups. The pro Idem was difficult, because most of the Jewish applicants were town Vypea. Nearly

every refugee arriving iu Australia possessed at least £SOO, and some of them brought thousands of pounds with Ihetyi. Unless a male refugee had substantial capital or was a skilled worker, he was not granted a permit. In this way the department allowed entry only to migrants who could supply skilled Jaoour where it was needed, or to those who would not compete with unskilled Australian workmen.