ALIEN MIGRANTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23828, 7 June 1939, Page 5

ALIEN MIGRANTS

REGULATIONS TIGHTENED LABOUR SAFEGUARDS (From Our Own Correspondent) SYDNEY, May 19. : Action has been taken by the Commonwealth Government to tighten up the regulations governing the entry of alien migrants into Australia. The Minister for the In-; terior (Senator 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 check, upon, theirqualifications. , .V Faiure of any. alien employer,, or employee to observe the new tions to be imposed upon them;. would result in the guilty person' being deported, the Minister warned, Also on the new application form, the intending migrants will be asked to state whether or not they are Jewish. This requirement, Senator: Foil emphasised, 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 Wei-

fare 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 he would not engage in labour at less than award wages. , Many migrants .were, .now seeking entry;.;as'' : ,employers; the department' deemed .it',:advisable to require them .'to--declare "-'.tltsftj-'they would not;- ■-employ,: labour".-.at,', less than award rates.. -■• vl:; ' " 1 I For nomifiated aliens the •.department required the guarantorto State whether he personally kn^w 5 * the alien for whorn-lievwas admission, and Whether, he wi# Itted to follow the' calling Vgjyen ;bti his application form, and if he would, in fact, follow the calling nahXed on arrival .in Australia, ; Noncompliance any of the to be imposed.both oh employers- and' employees might result in the deportation of the guilty .party;v..So far there, had been,np need ..drastic action, refugee. Senator Foil invited persons •Jelai.med to. have knowledge of ;'award breaches, by aliens to ■ furnish his department With the infattnation. All such carges would; be;/fully investigated. . *