GROWING CONCERN.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16618, 23 December 1924, Page 7

GROWING CONCERN.

QUOTA SYSTEM PROPOSED,

SYDNEY, Dec. 10.—There is considerable concern in Australia at the rapidly increasing influx of southern Europeans. Tho restrictions imposed by America have directed aitlentiiou to litis continent, and for some months' now the numbers of now arrivals have been swelling quickly. Italian settlers in North Queensland have in the past done very well, and havo been admirable citizens, and it is natural that they should attract. considerable numbers of their compatriots whom they are ablei to assure of employment or other prospects. But apart from Italians, there has been a prospect of large numbers of Greeks and Jugo-Slavs arriving here, many with very little money and no prospects. The inevitable accessions to the ranks of unomployed from these sources have caused the> Federal Government to take the important, step of fixing a monthly quota for Jugo-Slavs and Greeks. This is an entirely new departure in immigration restrictions, and it is geneitiliy believed that it, will be vo.'.y elastic in tho case of any prospective settlers who are able to show that they have eithej capital or definite piospects. Tho object, it is believed, is as much to protect the prospective settlers as to protect Australia.

Arrangements have been made that transport vises for Australia in favor of Juao-Slavs and Greeks shall not exceed 100 a month of each nationality, and preference is to be given to thosei who have a knowledge of English and bine some capital or intend to join close relations.

So far the restriction has not been extended to Italian.*, although only last week a large Italian vessel, which arrived witb 724 settlers from the Mediterranean, included amongst this number 360 Italians as against 140 Jugo-Slavs and 120 Greeks. This vessel, the Palermo, is 8000 tons, and has been special'.}- equipped to serve as an emigrant ship between Italy and Australia. This is heir first trip", and the whole of the passenger space is gi\ em over to the migrants, who sleep together in large airy compartments, arranged according to their nationalities The officers of the Palermo consider her to be one of tho most up-to-date immigrant ships afloat, and great pains are taken to keep the vesscil clean. When at sea all the passengers are mustered on deck in the morning while the sleeping compartments are thoroughly cleansed.

Captain Chiesa, commander of the vessel, said that during the voyage ho had £6500 entrusted to' him, to he paid out to the Italian migrants at the end of tho voyage. The Italian Government insisted that every prospective emigrant to Australia should have at least £4O over his passage l money, which amounted to £37. An Italian who wished to migrate to Australia, therefore, must have paved at least £BO. These conditions, he considered, ensured an industrious and thrifty class of immigrant for Australia. Officers of lbs vessel say that if inducement offers passGngcv services to Australia will be greatly improved. There are already three large Italian liners, in addition to the Palermo, trading to Australia. If alterations slmi'ar to those effected on the Palermo are carried out, as; is probable, on the other vessels, the four st miners alone will be capable of bringing 7500 immigrants to Australia in the course of one year.