ALIEN MIGRANTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23413, 1 August 1939, Page 16

ALIEN MIGRANTS

STRICT. REGULATIONS ACTION IN AUSTRALIA GUARDING AWARD WAGES [from our own con respondent] SYDNEY, July 21 Action lias been taken by the C'omrnonwon!th Government to tighten up the regulations governing, the entry of alient migrants into Australia. The Minister of the Interior, Senator H. S. Foil, announced that the application for permits to enter had been amended to ensure that migrants shall comply with Australian industrial awards and to provide a closer meek upon their qualifications. The Minister issued a warning that the failure of any alien employer or employee to observe the new conditions to bo imposed upon them, could result in the guilty person being deported. Also on the new application form the intending migrants would be asked to state whether or not they were Jewish. This requirement had no religious or racial significance. It was intended to assist the department and welfare organisations in ascertaining fully the standing of applicants.

An intending migrant having indicated that he was Jewish and the department having no personal knowledge of him, would forward his application to the Jewish Welfare Society, which would then inquire as to .the possibility of his being employed in Australia and_ his personal character. If the department was satisfied, it would then approve his application for a permit. Senator Foil said that in the past the department had contented itself with asking an alien, migrant for an undertaking that ho would not engage in labour at less than award wages. Many migrants 'were now seeking entry as employers, and the department deemed it advisable to require them to declare that they would not employ labour at less than award rates. For nominated aliens, the department required the guarantor to state whether he personally knew the alien for whom he was seeking admission, and whether he was fitted to follow the calling gix'en on his application 'form and if he would, in fact, follow the callin.'" named on arrival in Australia. Noncompliance with any of the conditions to he imposed both on employers and employees might result in the deportation of the guilty party. So far there had been no need for such drastic action against any refugee. t . Senator Foil invited persons claiming to have knowledge of award breaches bv aliens to furnish his department with the information. All such, charges would be fully investigated.