wealth offer inducements to desirable settlers in the form of passage money to those who agree to engage in farming; some offer, in addition, easy terms of land ownership and money advances to tide farmers over until after their first crop has been harvested. Various measures have been adopted from time to time by the Governments, both Commonwealth and State as well as by private groups, to induce desirable settlers to enter the country. These do not differ materially from those employed by Canada, since they consist of advertising the resources and attractions of Australia by means of exhibitions, handbooks, newspapers and periodicals. These measures were almost entirely suspended during the war. In 1920, a new plan was worked out between the Commonwealth and state governments. Under this, the Commonwealth is to be responsible for the recruiting of immigrants abroad, practically limited to the United Kingdom, and for their transport to Australia; the state governments, on their part, are to advise as to the number and classes of immigrants which they are prepared to receive and place in employment. "NOMINATED" IMMIGRANTS The Commonwealth government donates 12 pounds toward the passage with further loans in special cases. Under this scheme, the immigrants are divided into two classes, "assisted" and "nominated." "Assisted" immigrants are those who are originally recruited by the Commonwealth overseas. "Nominated" immigrants are those nominated in accordance with certain regulations by persons resident in Australia who are required to look after those whom they have nominated and, if necessary, assume the burden of their support. SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR EX-SERVICE MEN In addition to the assistance mentioned above special free passages to Australia were granted by the Overseas Settlement Committee in London, to British ex-service men and their Official Year Book of the Commonwealth of Australia, No. 14, 1921, page 1037. dependents and to British ex-service women accepted as suitable settlers under the Joint Commonwealth and State Immigration Scheme. This concession was to remain in force until the end of the year 1921, and every Australian of good repute was eligible to nominate candidates who would be duly landed free of any charge. METHODS OF PUBLICITY Australia feels keenly the loss of sixty thousand of her best men in the World War; this was a heavy toll on five million people. She is making efforts to repair this waste. In order to help along such work the following advertisement which speaks with no uncertain sound, appeared in "Australia Today, 1923." To British Men and Women, Australia's Invitation. Australia Invites Farmers with Capital, Farm Workers, Domestic Girls, Lads who will work on farms. To approved settlers of these classes Australia offers:(1) An assisted passage from England to Australia. Total adult fare The British and Commonwealth Governments pay.. ... 36 pounds. 12 pounds. Balance to be paid by Emigrant. 24 pounds. Further assistance in addition to the free contribution of 12 pounds may be granted by way of loan. (2) A place ready and waiting on arrival. There is in Australia, at present no lack of openings for people of the above four classes. (3) Sunshine and Health.-The climates of all the Australian states are among the healthiest in the world. Bright, genial weather prevails almost throughout the year. Special number of The Australian Traveller, November 11, 1922, Melbourne. (4) A fair day's pay for a fair day's work. Australia (5) Unequalled and unlimited opportunity for progress. (7) Neighbors of the same stock, who speak the same (8) A share in a great national future. Australia is a young country, with vast resources located but hardly touched. The development of her natural resources has scarcely commenced, and the future therefore, holds out rich rewards for both capital and labor. IMMIGRATION LEGISLATION-PRE-FEDERAL PERIOD In looking into the history of immigration legislation in Australia, we find certain pre-federal laws. Long before the formation of the Federation, the several states had regarded it as desirable to impose certain restrictions upon the admission of persons wishing to become inhabitants of those states. The influx of the Chinese, for instance, was limited by stringent statutes, and general Acts were passed in some of the States which had the effect of restricting the immigration of other, principally Asiatic, races. There were also restrictions upon the admission of persons who were undesirable as inhabitants, either for medical or moral reasons, or who were likely to be an economic burden upon the community. Upon the establishment of the Commonwealth in 1900," the Constitution Act empowered the Commonwealth Parliament to make laws with respect to immigration and emigration, and the influx of criminals. The powers specified have now been exercised by the Commonwealth Government, and the laws passed in pursuance thereof supersede the previously existing State Laws. The combined regulating acts are known as the Immigration Act, 1901-1920. VARIOUS ACTS INDICATED The first Federal Act dealing with this matter was the Immigration Restriction Act of 1901, which contained provisions restricting the immigration of the classes of persons previously mentioned, and also persons under contract to perform manual labour. The provisions regarding contract labour were repealed and amended by the Contract Immigrants Act, 1905, and the principal Act was also amended by the Immigration Restriction Amendment Act, 1905, and subsequently by the Immigration Restriction Acts of 1906 and 1910, and the Imigration Act of 1912. The immigration of alien races and undesirable persons is now regulated by the Immigration Act 1901-12. Admission of immigrants under contract to perform manual labour is, however, still controlled by the provisions of the Contract Immigrants Act, 1905, and will be permitted if the contract is in writing, is made by or on behalf of some person named, who must be resident in Australia, and approved by the Minister. Such approval, which must be obtained before the immigrant lands in Australia, will not be given if the contract is made with a view to affecting an industrial dispute, or if the remuneration and other terms are not as advantageous to the contract immigrant as those current for workers of the same class at the place where the contract is to be carried out. There is an additional provision where the proposed immigrant is not a British subject, born in the United Kingdom or 8 Established in 1900; proclaimed in 1901. Chap. 1, Pt. V., Sec. 51, XXVII and XXVIII, page 22. descendant of such a person. In such case it has to be proved that it is difficult for the employer to obtain in the Commonwealth a worker of at least equal skill and ability. In case of infraction of the law it is provided that the contract is absolutely void, and the immigrant and employer are both liable to penalties; the employer is also liable to compensate the immigrant until he obtains employment, or, at the option of the immigrant, to provide expenses for his return to the country whence he came. PROHIBITED CLASSES Within the meaning of the law the following are classed as "PROHIBITED IMMIGRANTS."-(a) Any person who fails to pass the dictation test; that is to say, who fails to write out not less than fifty words of a language prescribed by regulation when dictated to him by an officer administering the Act. (b) Any person not possessed of the prescribed certificate of health. (c) Any idiot, imbecile, feeble-minded person, or epileptic. (d) Any person suffering from a serious transmissible disease or defect. (e) Any person suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis, trachoma, or from any loathsome or dangerous communicable disease, either general or local. (f) Any person suffering from any other disease or mental or physical defect, which from its nature is, in the opinion of an officer, liable to render the person concerned a charge upon the public or upon any public or charitable institution. (g) Any person suffering from any other disease, disability, or disqualification which is prescribed. (h) Any person who has been convicted of a crime and sentenced to imprisonment for one year or more, unless five years have elapsed since the termination of the imprisonment. (i) Any person who has been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude, but whose sentence has been suspended or shortened conditionally on his emigration, unless five years have elapsed since the expiration of the term for which he was sentenced. (j) Any prostitute, procurer, or person living on the prostitution of In actual practise this language is English. |