LIFE IN AUSTRALIA

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 199, 15 April 1932, Page 5

LIFE IN AUSTRALIA

' (Press Assn.-

MIGRANTS' PET|T10N .. if. 'T.t z ; ASTONISHING TALE OF WOES TOLD TO BRiTlSH PARLIAMENT FEDERAL MINISTER'S REPLY

-By Telegraph—

-Copyrlght.)

LONDON,. Wednesday j Mr. J. G. Latham, Attorney-GeneXal for Australia, who is in England in; connection with the 1 appeal to the. Privy Council by the New South Wales Qovernment on the question of the abolition of the State Legislative Council, has sent to the Press a reply to a petition s,-gned by 50,000 mii grants to' Australia. which Mx» X Mc-GovsT-n, (Jndependent La^op? memb.pc for Shettlestone, Glasgow), has presented to the House of Commons. | The p.etitioners contended that they left the'r homes in Britain owing to the "extravagant, misleading, and in • many cases - induUably. false propaganda hy the Australian Governments." ' ■ They alleged that many of the signatories are now reduced to misery, semi-starvation and despair. Suicides are frequent, some have lo,st their reason. Y*oung women have sold their virtue and men are herded in camps, the conditions of which are hardly better than convicts'. | Mr. Latham points out that assisted migra.tion to Australia has been practically suspended since the beginning of 1930, and there are unemployment and distress in every country. A large majority of the m; grants went on their relatives' and friends' nomination and it is improper to suggest that any Government was responsible for their migration. When the depression, which was aecentuated by a drop in prices, became grave, assisted migration was. suspended. Many migrants who had returned to England are now seeking facilities to return to Australia, having found that the opportunities and prospects here were at least no better than in Australia. Many of the petitioners' statements were exaggerated or without foundation. The migrants had the same unemployment relief as was given to Australians..