MUST CHANGE ATTITUDE

Waikato Times, Volume 195, Issue 22461, 23 September 1944, Page 8

MUST CHANGE ATTITUDE

LABOUR AND IMMIGRATION CANBERRA, Sept. 21 Australian trade unions would have to revise their attitude towards migration, declared a Labour member, Mr Williams (New South Wales) in the House of Representatives. He advocated an immediate overhaul of the Commonwealth immigration policy and the appointment of a director of migration at a salary of not less than £SOOO a year. “The trade unions of this country in the past unfortunately took the view that the bringing of more people into the country would cause unemployment and effect the rate of wages,” said Mr Williams. “At the time they had good reason for that point of view because there was not then enough work for Australian workers. “There is no doubt that immigration here has been badly handled. In the past we have approached the question in the wrong way. In 1933 Parliament was forced to admit that settlers had been brought to Australia under false pretences and legislation to compensate them had to be passed. Australia received such a bad advertisement that millions of pounds now spent to advertise us could hardly repair that damage.” Mr Abbott (Country Party, New South Wales), said heavy migrations

into Australia of rapidly reproducing coloured people would be fatal. The waifs and strays of Europe might form a valuable source of migrants. Answering a question, the Prime Minister, Mr J. Curtin, said inquiries were being made about the reported opposition in Britain to the sending of war orphans to Australia. It had been reported that the British Ministry of Pensions was opposed to allowing war orphans to leave Britain until they were of age to make a choice for themselves. No Australian scheme had yet been placed before the British Government.