IMMIGRANTS FOR AUSTRALIA.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1439, 14 May 1912, Page 3

IMMIGRANTS FOR AUSTRALIA.

"A LACK OF WELCOME." At a recent meeting of the Congregational Union of New South Wales, according to an exchange, the Rev. F. D. Dowling commented severely upon what he described as the lack of proper welcome accorded to immigrants in Australia. Many immigrants, he said, had had the experience oi' tramping Sydney streets vainly endeavouring to obtain lodgings. They found Australia a very inhospitable place. Tho other dav no fewer thnu 100 of these forlorn people returned to the steamer ami asked la bo allowed In sleep iu the bunks. Ample provision should have been made for them, bill apparently' the Government, did nol waul them until jhev had proved themselves Labour people. Other denominations were doing something for thee people, and' the speaker thought the Congregationalists should also do something, it was n bitter experience for immigrants, and one they were not likely to forget. The speaker further stated'that conditions on board the steamers were also unsatisfactory. Some of Uie-e immigrants arrived in the country ruined morally. The "l!cv. I'. Biitii?, ill speaking on the l!ev. Mr. Dowling's paper, characterised the arrangement for receiving immigrants as "miserable and disgraeetul." H was. he added, a crying shame for a fiovcrnn.cnt to advertise for people in I lie Old I .and and then not to welcome I hem mi their arrival.