Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878 - 1954), Monday 6 December 1948, page 1


AUSTRALIA'S NEED OF POPULATION

CANBERRA, December 5.-Immigration] could be a matter of Australia's survival as a

nation, said the Prime Minister (Mr Chifley)

tonight in a report-to-the-nation broadcast.

He warned that they must populate Australia as rapidly as possible before someone else decided to populate it for them.

He added: "It must be remembered that only seven years ago a powerful enemy looked hungrily towards

Australia. It could be in tomorrow's gun flash that the threat will come again.

Migrants, he said, were now arriving at the rate of 70,000 per year and next year it was possible that the intake would be increased to 100,000.

DISPLACED PERSONS

Referring to displaced per- sons, Mr Chifley said: "Do not think, because their native tongue is not English, that these people will not make good Australians.

"Behind the shy, halting speech of that Pole or Balt is a man or woman exactly the same as yourself. The children of all our migrants will be first generation Australians. They will grow up to help to make Australia not only great,

but safe."