FUTURE MIGRATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 December 1943, Page 2

FUTURE MIGRATION

PROBLEMS IN THE PACIFIC DISCUSSION IN AUSTRALIA. GUARDED STATEMENT MADE by mr nash: (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, December 27. The complex problem of post-war immigration is occupying an increasingly important place in the Australian public mind. The Prime Minister, Mr Curtin, recently affirmed his own adherence to “Australia’s traditional policy’ on immigration matters. The “Sydney Morning Herald’s” political correspondent, however, today says that Mr Curtin objects strongly to the continued use of the term “white Australia” on the grounds that it is a needless affront to non-Caucasian races, specially those who are allied with Australia in this war. Some Australians feel that their country’s immigrant colour bar must be made less rigid. According to the Sydney “Daily Telegraph’s” political correspondent, unofficial suggestions have been made that the quota system , should be introduced. This could be used to permit educated Indians, Chinese, Javanese and Filipinos entering the Commonwealth providing that their training fitted them for the available job. Such a system would overcome some trade union fears 1 of a lowered living standard. A guarded statement touching coloured immigration in Australia and New Zealand has been made by Mr Nash in an interview here. The population distribution of the Pacific made it essential for both countries to increase their numbers, he said, but they needed the right to determine what people to bring in. He could not advocate the bringing in of “antagonistic elements,” but on the other hand the seeds of another war would most certainly be sown if other nations said they would neither accept Japanese people nor let their goods flow to them. “We have got to find a way of altering our discriminatory restrictions,” declared Mr Nash, “but I do not see why we should be advocates for bringing in other races that disintegrate/our progress. We must find a way oilusing our resources for the benefit of Jb.ll. Japan will fight again if we stifle her right to live.” Mr Nash expressed the belief that the northern European peoples were a type which developed best in New Zealand and Australia. He concluded by declaring that the one clear fact concerning post-war migration was that under-populated areas offering scope for development could not be reserved for their present populations while smaller adjacent areas were crowded with teeming millions.