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SIGNS OF SUCCESS IN
ASSIMILATION OF
NEW AUSTRALIANS
There were many encouraging signs of the
successful assimilation of migrants into the Australian
community according to a resolution adopted by the
fourth annual Citizenship Convention.
These signs included the com-
parative rarity of complaints,
the snowball effect of nomina-
tions, the small number of
Italians seeking repatriation, the
quick assimilation of children,
the large number of migrants
who had passed through hostels
and the large number of home
purchasers amongst migrants.
Because of certain problems
associated with assimilation, the
convention recommended that
sub-committees of Good Neigh-
bour Councils and New Settlers'
leagues be formed to obtain the
viewpoints of migrants on the
problems of assimilation.
The main problems of assim-
ilation according to the resolu-
tion were:—
. Deep-rooted national preju-
dices existing amongst adult
migrants;
. Lack of appreciation
amongst Australians generally
of importance of migration;
. The use of derogatory terms
by Australians regarding new
Australians which was deplored;
. Generalisations being drawn
from particular unfortunate in-
cidents and the undue promin-
ence given in the press to re-
porting such incidents;
. Misunderstanding by Aus-
tralians of national pride in cul-
tural inheritance;
. Information by migrants
that Australians were not strong
enough in their opposition to
Communism as they had had no
first hand experience of it; and
. Housing, employment and
unequal distribution of sexes.
FEARS MIGRANTS PREY
TO COMMUNISM
Migrants were likely to fall
under the influence of Com-
munists unless employment was
available for them when they
reached Australia, Mr. F. Car-
mody, a representative of the
A.C.T.U. told the convention.
Unless something was done
quickly in the matter of em-
ployment for migrants there
would soon be a breeding ground
for Communism amongst them,
he said.
He was supporting a resolu-
tion that the knowledge of vacan-
cies and the facilities of the De-
partment of Labour and Nation-
al Service should be made freely
available to unemployed mi-
grants.
Mr. Carmody said there were
people in Australia only too will-
ing to seize on opportunities
offering amongst unemployed to
spread their propaganda.
Although the spiritual and
welfare needs of migrants were
being looked after, swift action
would have to be taken to attend
to their material needs, or the
Government and the people
would not be able to get the co-
operation needed for assimilation
of migrants into the community.
PLEA FOR MIGRANT
DOCTORS
Delegates appealed for action
to prevent migrants with profess-
sional qualifications such as
doctors, from losing their skill by
non-employment at their callings.
The convention urged that
the Governments grant such per-
sons financial or other assistance
during a probationary period in
their profession.
The convention resolved that
as professional skills will be
lost if opportunity for practice
is withheld, the possibilities of
gainful occupation during a pro-
bationary professional period of
of financial assistance to enable
the necessary period of univer-
sity study to be undertaken,
should be fully explored by State
and Commonwwealth Govern-
ments in collaboration with the
professional bodies concerned."
Dr. K. Mowatt, representing
the New Settlers League of
Queensland, said that medical
services in Australia had not
been impaired by the attitude of
the medical profession towards
migrant doctors.
"The first duty of the B.M.A.
is for the good of the public, but
we must remember that although
European schools of medicine are
old and well-established, their
ethical outlook is vastly different
from that of Britain," he said.
"In medicine, the language dif-
ficulty is enormous, and it is
most important that qualified
European doctors have a fluent
control of the English language,"
added Dr. Mowatt.
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