LAW AGAINST UNDESIRABLE IMMIGRANTS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 293, 6 September 1919, Page 8

LAW AGAINST UNDESIRABLE IMMIGRANTS

AUSTRALIA ACTS. Measures to prevent the entry into the Commonwealth of undesirable persons, and to allow of the deporfubion of others, are proposed to bo taken by the Federal Ministry. Under the Immigration Act Amendment Bill, which was introduced into the House of representatives recently by tiie Minister for Homo and Territories (Mr. Glynn), and rend a first time power is given to deal effectively with Bolsheviki and other porsons who are considered a menace to tho country. Provision is made ill the J3iH to prevent the entry into i:he Commonwealth of any epileptic, feeble-minded, or insane person, also:— "Any anarchist or person who advocates tho overthrow by force or violence of tlio established Government of the Commonwealth or of any State or of any oiiHT Civiiis-ju country, or ot nil forms of law, or who is opposed to organised Government. or wiio advocates tho assassination di' public officials, or who advocates or teaches the unlawful destruction of properly,, or who is a member of or affiliated with any organisation which entertains and teaches any of the.doctrines and practices specified in this paragraph." fij is also provided that for the period of five years after the commencement of the Act, and unlil tlio Governor-General by proclamation otherwise determines, any person who, in tlio opinion of an officer, is of German, Austro-Gernian, Bulgarian, or Hungarian parentage and nationality, or is a Turk of Ottoman race, shall bo refused entry into the Commonwealth. Prohibition will also apply to any person who, in tho opinion of any officer, is not under the ago of 1G years, and who, on demand, fails to prove that lie is the Holder 01 a passport issued by and on iK-hali ol the imperial Uuvermnent, or any Government, recognised by the Imperial Government, and to persons who have been deported in pursuance of any act. Power is given to the Government un dei' the Bill to require any owner, agent, or charter of a vessel in Which an undesirable" has been brought to Australia, to provide a passage for the prohibited immigrant to the place , from which ho came, the penalty for noncompliance with such a demand being fixed at -£100. The Minister way. under the existing Act, grant such exemptions as he may think tit to persons prohibited in the Bill. Where the Minister is satisfied to within three years after tho arrival inAustralia of a person who was not born in Australia, that person— "(1) Has been convicted in Australia of a criminal offence, .punishable by imprisonment for ono year or longer; (2) is liv-' ing on the prostitution of others; (3) has become an inmate of an insane asylum or public charitable institution: or (4) is au anarchist or person who advocates the overthrow of the Government by force, or is opposed lo orgnnised government, or advocates the assassination of public officials, or who leaches or advocates the unlawful destruction of property, or who is a member of or affiliated fwith any organisation teaching sueh doctrines, he may by notice in writing summon the person <o appear before a board to show cause why he should not be depTted." ■ This board will consist of three members onpointed by the Minister, the chairman being a person who has held office as a indee, police, stinendiarv, or specie magistrate. Where tho board recommends the deportation of anv nerson, or the person concerned fails, within the prescribed time to show cause whv he should not be deported, the Minister may make an order for his deportation.