IMMIGRATION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1739, 2 May 1913, Page 9

IMMIGRATION.

CO-OPERATION OP AUSTRALIAN STATES. The competition between the immigration officers of the various Australian States in London is considered to be detrimental to the immigration system generally, for men to.tally unfitted to mab good colonists are. frequently accepted' from tlie agents whoso recommendations were almost invariably accepted. Tho Victorian Immigration Department (says the Melbourne "Age") _ has long desired to enter into the immigration business with the other States in a co-operative spirit, but conference.; held at different times proved abortive: According to a cablegram received from Jlr. Watt, the State Premier, now in\England, however, it is almost assured that some definite arrangement will be entered into as the result of the conference in london between Mr. "Watt and tho Premier of South Australia (Mr. Teake) and the Premier-elect of New South Wales (Mr. Holman). The Victorian Immigration Minister explained that many benefits would result through co-operation. Under the existing system a large number of emigration agents throughout Great Britain acted independently on behalf of all the States, and in somo cases also for Cnnnda and United States. Naturally, the object of theso agents was to secure as much commission as possible, and in order to do this they endeavoured, as far as possible, to have no candidate rejected. In consequence of the intrusion of theso purely business methods, if the specifications of one Stato were niore exacting than another, a candidate who oould not pass for the test of the former was quietly passed on to tho other.' The immigration authorities in the various States felt - that undesirable immigrants, whether they landed in Adelaide, Melbourne, or Sydney, woro aji equal burden to all States, because, if through incompetence thoy failed to-make good in one, they would migrate to another, and continue tho operation until they had proved failures throughout the Commonwealth.» Under the co-operative system tho States generally would appoint agents, and it would naturally follow that they would exorcise more, care in selecting emigrants, tor if they failed to satisfy one State they would lose the confidence of tho lot. Tito agents would receive a very much larger volume of business, and to retain their connection they would select none but the best. Therefore, all the State? would bo better served. A general advertising policy would also bo adopted, would not only mean a better and more comprehensive system, but would also mako for economy.