CONTINENTAL MIGRANTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18891, 13 December 1924, Page 11

CONTINENTAL MIGRANTS.

HUNDREDS FOR ATJSTRALLV.

STEAMER AT PORT SAID.

AN INVASION FROM EUROPE.

By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. (Received 9.35 p.m.) A. and N.Z. LONDON, Dec. 11. When the steamer Cephee leaves Port Said she will carry about 700 Yugoslavs, 250 Greeks and Macedonians, 150 Italians, and 100 of other nationalities. They are mainly bound to Melbourne and Sydney. The foreigners are mostly young men, apparently of the labouring type, alert nnd intelligent, and under the impression that plenty of work is available in Australia. All have paid their own fares of 2000 francs and each possesses from £20 to £50. The emigrants are to be accommodated in the upper holds, and considerable attention has been given to sanitation and ventilation. There is ample hospital ac !

commodation. The Cepheo will continue to carry emigrants to Australia, and at a future date two other vessels will be similarly

equipped. Not an Organised Movement. The Messageries-Maritimes Company disclaims any knowledge of any organisation behind the migratory movement. It states that the emigrants have simply booked as individuals at various agencies of tho line. An Australian business man, who is a passenger by tho Cepheo, telegraphs from Ragusa, the Austrian port on the Adriatic, to the effect that the steamer wns specially and hurriedly fitted out to carry tho migrants from Middle and Southern Europe to Australia, Ho says this is evidently part of a new migratory movement, though the Shipping Company insists that all that has happened is that the stream of Continental migrants is being diverted from tho United States and is turning toward Australia as the only empty country left. The company unwittingly included among tho migrants a Bulgar, but he will bo put ashore somewhere in the Mediterranean, as it has sinco been discovered that ex-enemy subjects may not land in Australia. Passengers Fear Quarantine. Tho Australian passenger states that the Cephee embarked from 600 to 700 Yugoslavs, and a few Italians at Ragusa, but that no Czechs were booked. He adds that tho permanent appearance of the fittings aboard tho Cepheo induced him to make inquiries. Ho was told that other vessels wero being similarly equipped, but that they would not leavo the regular run in future. Instead tho migrants will bo brought from Marseilles. Tho first and second class passengers aboard the Cephee are troubled regarding the prospect of being sent into quarantine when tho vessel reaches Australia. Inquiries in London show that the only thing known in Australian circles is that a year ago the Messageries Company obtained information from Australia House respecting the conditions under which foreign migrants could be taken to Australia. Nothing seems to be known concerning the issue of passports, or if thcvso migrants were medically examined.