WHITE AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3830, 9 August 1927, Page 63

WHITE AUSTRALIA.

INCREASING FOREIGN INFLUX.

SOUTHERN EUROPEANS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, July 29. Australia, which prides itself upon its "White Australia policy, and which has courageously set itself the task of maintaining its ■ possessory title to the continent with practically only a handful of people, is, at the same time, viewing with disquiet the growing influx of foreigner's who are not outside the racial limit. Photographs in the press of ships arriving in Sydney with a heterogeneous human collection, talking many strange tongues, tell their own story. The public is whole-heartedly behind successive Governments in their attitude, in keeping out those who are not, it is felt, because of racial and national characteristics, capable of absorbing our own British ideals and standards. The returned soldiers, at their coming congress in Sydney, propose to discuss the growing influx of southern Europeans. The Federal Government, however, is preserving a strict silence with regard to the resolution which is to come before the conference. It is a delicate matter, especially now that Australia is closely affected bv world events and happenings, and the Government is not prepared to make too much noise about it. Even at the Federal Capital, which is in its swaddling clothes, the number of foreigners is surprising. They are apparently getting in on the ground floor, even if they are not allowed to lease land there. The inevitable Greeks are prominent. One Greek, on applying to an official for a job, was refused. The Greek wanted to know why. “Because we give preference to returned soldiers.’’ was the official’s quick reply, The Greek's retort was even more rapid and emphatic. “Well,” he said, “whatta do you want; I’m a returned soldier.” Which was a fact. He produced an A.I.F. badge, and got a job. It only shows what a delicate matter the whole problem of foreigners is in Australia. While the ordinance forbidding the leasing of land at the capital to foreigners is a deterrent, the opening for those who become naturalised is readily availed of. In the neighbouring town of Queanbeyan, only a few miles away, foreign shopkeepers are a fairly strong element.