BOUHD FOR AUSTRALIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 December 1924, Page 9

BOUHD FOR AUSTRALIA.

MIGRANTS FROM EUROPE.

ONLY EMPTY COUNTRY LEFT. A MYSTERIOUS SHIPMENT. Dy Telegraph—Press A«sn.—Copyright. Received Dec. 12, 11.5 p.m. London, Dec. 11. cAn Australian business man on board the Cephee telegraphs from Ragusa I (Dalmatia) that the vessel was speei'ally and hurriedly fitted out to carry mid-southern Europe migrants to Australia. This is evidently part of tjie i)«ew migratory movement, though the company insists that its agencies booked the migrants as individuals, and all that has happened is that the stream of Continental migrants is being diverted from the United States and turning to Australia as the only empty country left.

Tlie company unwittingly included a Bulgarian, but he will be put ashore somewhere in the Mediterranean, as it has since been discovered that ex-enemy subjects may not land in Australia. The Cephee embarked between 600 and 700 Jugo-Slavs and a few Italians at Ragusa, but no Czechs were booked.

The narrator adds: “The permanent appearance of the fittings on board the Cephee induced me to make inquiries. I am told that other vessels are similarly equipped, but they will noir- leave the regular run in future. Listead migrants will be taken to Marseilles.” The first and second-class on beard the Cephee are troubled regarding the prospects of quarantine when the ship reaches Australia. Inquiries in London. show that the only information in Australian circles is that a year ago, the Messageries Maritimes obtained information from Australia House respecting the conditions under such .migrants could be taken to Australia. Nothing seems to be known concerning the issue of. passports or if the migrants h-aye beeiii medically, examined.