DRIFT FROM AUSTRALIA

Hokitika Guardian, 23 January 1931, Page 2

DRIFT FROM AUSTRALIA

INQUIRIES BY MINISTER, NO POWER OF PREVENTION. WELLINGTON, Januarv 20

The situation created by the number of moll arriving from Australia who are unable to find work, and who will aggravate the unemployment situation has been investigated by the Hon S. G. Smith, who is chairman of the Unemployment Board and Minister of 7mmrgratioii, and the Hon J. G. Cobbo,

acting--Minister of Customs, but it appears that the Government is practically powerless to scop these men from entering the country. At present there is no authority for the Government to refuse the entry into the country of anyone from Australia who has paid his passage money, and who is not suffering from any infectious disease. Although an attempt has been made to ascertain the numbers arriving from Australia, it lias been impossible to find out how many of the arrivals remain in the country permanently. However, it is known that the number who do not return is considerable, and a significant proportion of these are believed to he men who have left Australia with the object of escaping the hardship existing there under the stringent economic conditions, and incidentally partaking of any advantages the Dominion can oiler.