Yellow Hand of the East

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 480, 9 October 1928, Page 9

Yellow Hand of the East

WARNING TO AUSTRALIA

Urged to Speed Immigration

(United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) "THE yellow hand of the East is knocking at the back door 1 of Australia. We must fill the land up, or clear out.”

By a policy of restriction and exclusiveness, Australia is losing some of the best blood and brains that Britain can offer. Britain’s young manhood is going to the Argentine and elsewhere and competing against Australia, instead of being partners and sharers in its development and prosperity. This is one of the arresting conclusions of the Rev. J. P. Pughe, M.A., ex-Canon of Brisbane, who has been intimately associated with migration, and who has issued a report about his visit to Australia, to which Mr. Amery, Secretary of State for the Dominions, forewords: “Everyone would do well to consider this shrewd, thoughtful criticism.” Mr. Pughe declares that it is impossible to blame Australia House for the tardy development. It is simply carrying out its orders. When the requisitions for settlers are cut down or entirely cancelled it is exceedingly difficult to carry on.

“No business worked on such uncertain and indefinite lines can possibly succeed. The key to the whole situation lies in Australia, and the Labour Party holds the key.” . There are men in England such as Mr. Lloyd George and Mr. J. H. Thonias, who could go to Australia, confer with Labour, and establish an honourable pact of peace. Personally, Mr. Pughe believes that the Labour Party in Australia is not destitute of high ideals or disloyal to the Motherland.

“As they helped the Empire in the war, ask them to help us now, when the Empire is threatened with a greater danger than war. Make a prosperous and lasting peace at Home and save the Motherland from the degradation and deterioration of her manhood for want of employment. Appeal to the workers of Australia to help solve the problems of the Motherland, and find room in an ample land for their kith and kin.” He maintains that Australia needs a wider vision of what making a nation means. She needs more than farm hands and domestics. The avenues of approach for the selected nominated migrant must be increased. “Publicity work should be begun in America, Denmark, Germany and Sweden to encourage capitalled men with specially liberal terms. The yellow hand of the East is knocking at the back door of Australia. We must show that we are doing our best effectively to occupy the land. We must fill it up or clear out.”