PEOPLING AUSTRALIA.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1813, 28 July 1913, Page 11

PEOPLING AUSTRALIA.

EMPTY EMIGRANT SHIPS. REMARKABLE DECREASE IN TRAFFIC. Certain of tho Australian States (says "Tho Times" of June 12) and the shipping companies are now finding themselves in a curious position regarding the marked falling-off during the past few months of emigration to Australia from this country. Last yeaT, when the supply of vessels fitted for carrying emigrants was quite insufficient to cope with the extraordinary demand for accommodation, somo of tho companies wero approached with the idea of securing increased facilities. The companies mado two proposals: (1) That they should provide space at so much per 40 cubic feet in suitable vessels, tho State authorities making the necessary alterations for the reception of the passengers, and (2) that the companies should themselves convert the vessels into emigrant ships, and that in return the States should undertake to secure_ the necessary number of emigrants to justify the accommodation or els© pay tho companies tho equivalent of the passago money. This offer was accepted, a number of steamors were specially fitted, and a contract made for three years.

In considering this offer, it must be remembered that considerable expense is inourred in providing passenger accommodation in ordinary steamers. The cost is placed at a minimum of per head, and in some vessels it has worked out at as much as ,£3O per head. The actual cost of carrying and feeding tho emif rants is put at X 9 per head per voyage. lie companies receive as passago money .£l2 per head, so the net result at tho end of a single voyage would bo that the companies wero JSI7 per head out of pocket; as the profit on the feeding and transport is .£3 per head this capital lay would not be wiped out until several voyages with a full complement of immigrants had been made. Now, owing to the falling off in immigration, the additional accommodation is not wanted, and tho companies were yesterday being approached with a view to an amendment of tho terms of tho contract. What the result will be remains to bo seen. Companies outside the agreement say that ttiere has been practically no emigrant traffic to Australia for some months past, and that the present empty state of the vessels is a remarkable contrast to the crush duriue the of lost year. They attribute the falling off to tho present high' level of wages amoug skilled labourers in this country.