ALIENS CHECK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23011, 12 April 1938, Page 11

ALIENS CHECK

TIGHTER LAWS AUSTRALIA TO ACT SUGAR-CANE FIELDS NO MORE ADMISSIONS IRRIGATION AREAS By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received April 11, 7.35 p.m.) CANBERRA, April 11 The Australian Federal Government has decided to tighten up the migration laws affecting aliens, of whom no more will be admitted to the Queensland sugar-cane fields nor to the New South Wales and Victorian irrigation areas. The group migration of aliens will not be approved or facilitated. No special facilities will be granted for the admission of European Jews. Protests against the influx of certain aliens into Australia have been made for some time past. Two years ago the Premier of Queensland, Mr. W. Forgan Smith, expressed his unwillingness to take part in any system of mass immigration under which the State would have to bear part of the financial burden. But if schemes could be evolved whereby the full cost were borne by the country experiencing relief from over-population, or if the full cost were met by the individual settler himself, the Premier said he felt no apprehension that their arrival in Queensland would not be of ultimate benefit to the State. Much criticism has been levelled at Italian immigrants. Concern has been expressed by ex-soldier settlers on the Murrumbidgee irrigation areas in New South Wales at the increase in the number of Italian farmers there.

The Commonwealth statistician's report last year showed that Italians were arriving in Australia at the rate of about 1400 a year. A large percentage, he said, could not read or write Knglish. The controversy assumed larger proportions last August, when passengers by the Otranto on their return to Australia protested to the Federal Government against the large influx of Southern Europeans. The Otranto on that voyage, it was stated, had a large number of migrants on board who were not of the type that was wanted in Australia. Three other liners were to follow with 600 aliens, chiefly Italians, Greeks, Yugoslavs and Germans. The Prime Minister, Mr. J. A. Lyons, in reply, said there was nothing abnormal about the number of foreign migrants entering the Commonwealth, and he understood that about 80 per cent of the newcomers were dependent relatives of persons already in Australia. Dissatisfaction, however, increased and in December the Minister of the Interior, Mr. John McKweti, said that as a result of the Italian influx a survey of the whole alien migration position would be made. There was no need for an outcry, the Minister added. Of the 5129 foreign immigrants for the 11 months of 1937, 1882 were Italians. Many Germans, mostly Jewish exiles, and other foreigners including Austrinns, Lithuanians, Estonians and Poles have inquired at Australia House, London, this year about the possibility of their migration to the Commonwealth.