ITALIAN MIGRATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19916, 9 April 1928, Page 12

ITALIAN MIGRATION.

Sir, —The speech delivered in Sydney by Mr. W. M. Hughes has caused a small flutter in Australia. I ain only concerned with what lie said of my countrymen and of our leader in connection with Italian emigration to Australia. Mr. Hughes knows very well that Signor Mussolini has reversed the old Italian policy of, practically, a free expatriation of Italians and that, after abolishing Italy's Emigration Commissary, he enforced most restrictive regulations in matters of expatriation. The first restrictions were applied on and from August 1 last, and since then they have been further narrowed. At present they are such as to mean that Italians can no longer emigrate. The measures apply generally to emigration to any part of the world, and are part of the Fascista national policy. A message from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs says: " The Government of Italy does not wish the emigration of Italians. It consents to their expatriation only when it i;> an obvious necessity of bringing together members, of the same family, or when the evident personal interest •of an Italian subject may be served, as in the case of remunerative work assured through a regular agreement with a reputable firm of employers. Even in such cases, though, the Fascista Government will not allow the expatriation of Italians, unless it is to a country that desires thern and shows them respect and consideration." But these measures have a general application with regard to all countries, therefore they apply also to New Zealand. The degrees of relationship. which only may be taken into consideration are husband, parents, son, the brother of an unmarried or widowed sister, grandchildren. The " nomination " of a fiancee, is not admitted. Mr. Hughes certainly knew all this, the reason therefore, for choosing Italian immigration as one of the subjects for his electioneering address to the Sydney Nationalist Association was a stalking horse for a tilt at Signor Mussoiini. M. Blunno, Consul of Italy, Wellington.