ITALY'S SURPLUS PEOPLE.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 127, 8 April 1926, Page 5

ITALY'S SURPLUS PEOPLE.

A GLANCE TOWARDS AUSTRALIA Italy’s population is increasing at the rate of 500,000 souls a year. In the past she has readily found outlets ■for the excess. The United States absorbed from 300,000 to 400,000 annually. This was one reason why Italy did not colonise. The territories that she possesses overseas were chosen chiefly on account of their strategic value. Now, all is changed. America will only take 40,000 a year. The rest have had, to go elsewhere. Hundreds of /thousands have crossed into France where there has been abundant work for them at rebuilding in the devastated areas. Of the remainder, a proportion has migrated to South America, and a comparative handful has come to Australia. The residuum left behind in Italy is being added to each year, and. the difficulties in the -way of their disposal becomes more and more formidable. Writing in the Nineteenth Century for December, Dr. Beckles Wil/son takes up the problem at this point. Im portance, he says, is being shown, and the issue has become a live one both on the platform and in the press. Eyes are turned in all directions. One writer in the Fascist organ declares: “The existing map of the Mediterranean must be altered. And this change can he brought about only by an act of force.” He is thinking of Anatolia certainly, and of North-West Africa possibly. The interested Powers in I those particular instances would be Turkey, Greece, France, and, ultimately, Great Britain. Looking farther aifield., the Cameroons are mentioned as a likely haven for Italy’s surplus workers. Here, Japan, which holds the mandate, is chiefly concerned. What was formerly German SouthWest Africa is coveted as a source of raw maiterials which Italy badly Heeds, and, in this case the Union of South Africa becomes involved. But there are other parts of the British Empire which are receiving attention, and, to judge by the length of the newspaper extracts supplied in the article, they are attracting more notice than any other country. Describing Canada as a “vast country with an existing population of only a fifth of that of Italy, the “Progresso Italia” asks:— “Why should they seek to close the barrier to our industrious and sober people? What lights does this small population possess to half a continent which would surv.‘ . e an appeal to the conscience of the orld? What are they doing with X va Scotia, so rich in coal and grazing lands, but so poor in workers tyat after a century and a half it has only the population of the Italian city of Turin?” This is pointed criticism, indeed. But what will be thought of Dr. Barzini, a well-known publicist, who, after ranging over the world in quest of likely resting (places, has this to say of Australia: “Why should a country like Australia, which is manifestly unequal to the task of developing its vast vacant spaces, bar out the immigrants of a European country, who possess strong arms, resolute wills and intelligence? Who gave them this right? Not Great Britain. Have they the power in themselves to enforce it? Is there any justice iu such exclusion?

“Think of what a million industrious Italians would have made of the vast, fertile but empty spaces of Queensland, five times the size of Italy, and yet which in the course of a whole century the British immigrants have only scratched The only reason Australians can urge for their dog-in-the-manger policy is .the geographical unity of their country. Australia is an island. If there had been four islands instead of one! The argument is childish; and, in any case, what of Papua and New Guinea? Why have not we granted the mandate for those islands?” Italy, as the writer of the article in the Nineteenth Century points out could find room for many millions more if she made better use of her agricultural lands. But that would only ease the problem. Moreover, the urgency of finding raw materials for the industries which are rapidly springing lip would remain. It is well that Australia should know of Italy’s plight. Time could be spent profitably in thinking about it as it affects Australia.