I’m looking through a Department of Information file on correspondence from the Minister for Immigration (and Information, Arthur Calwell) during 1947 and 1948. For anyone who wants to follow up, its NAA: CP815/1, 021.148 (Item number 263676) – there are more details below. What has caught my eye is a timeline of “the Government’s achievements in the migration field in the past three years”.
I thought it was an excellent summary of the context in which the Displaced Persons (refugees in reality) from the Baltic States were brought to Australia in November 1947. It is part of a draft for a proposed article for the Catholic Weekly to appear under the byline of Minister Calwell. I have highlighted the parts of particular significance to the passengers on the First Transport by using an italic typeface. Also, I've had to change the layout a little to fit Blogspot's formatting limitations. [My comments within the timeline are in square brackets.]
1945 July: Cabinet [actually, Prime Minister Chifley, in establishing his first Cabinet] appoints the Hon Arthur A Calwell Minister for Immigration.
August: Mr Calwell announces the Government’s immigration policy to the House of Representatives.
September: Commonwealth Immigration Advisory Committee, under the Chairmanship of Mr LC Haylen, MHR, begins European tour to investigate emigration possibilities.
1946 February: Commonwealth Immigration Advisory Committee’s report published; advocates encouragement of emigration from Europe as well as Britain.
March: Mr Calwell announces signing of agreement between United Kingdom and Commonwealth Governments to provide free and assisted passages to Australia for British ex-servicemen and their dependents, and other selected British migrants.
August: Commonwealth and State Ministers confer in Canberra on nation’s immigration programme.
December: Cabinet approves agreement with Netherlands Emigration Foundation to bring Dutch farmers to Australia.
1947 January First party of British building tradesmen arrive under special arrangements made with United Kingdom Government.
February: Mr Calwell announces formation of Commonwealth Immigration Advisory Council to advise on immigration matters.
March: United Kingdom and Australian Governments announce that free and assisted passage schemes will come into operation on March 31.
April: Announcement of scheme for assisted passages for British ex-service personnel of European descent not eligible on residential grounds for such passages.
June: First free and assisted passage migrants arrive from United Kingdom. First child migrants arrive under reopened child migration schemes. Mr Calwell begins world tour to study immigration questions and seek more shipping for migrant carriage.
July: Agreement signed between International Refugee Organization and Commonwealth Government for migration to Australia of 12,000 selected displaced persons from camps in occupied Europe.
September: First party of assisted passage United States ex-servicemen reaches Australia.
November: Establishment of Bonegilla, first reception and training centre for education of migrants from displaced persons’ camps in Europe.
December: First party of 843 [actually 839, as 4 did not leave the Heintzelman in Fremantle and were returned to Europe on health or security grounds] displaced persons of Baltic origin arrive at Bonegilla from Europe. First “all migrant” ship reaches Australia from Britain.
1948 February: Mr Calwell announces that nearly half a million tons of shipping is in sight to bring British migrants to Australia.
March: Following ratification of peace treaties with Italy, Roumania, Bulgaria and Hungary, Mr Calwell announces modified policy allowing entry of nationals of those countries in certain circumstances.
April: First party of Dutch farmers under agreement with Netherlands Emigration Foundation, together with Dutch ex-servicemen, sail from Rotterdam.
May: Bathurst reception and training centre for displaced person migrants [sic] opens.
The minute continues with the prediction that, “These ‘Migration Milestones’ may well become milestones in Australian history." Such foresight!
While the article was drafted for proposed publication in the national Catholic Weekly, it first appeared as part of a series by Calwell on the resettlement of the Displaced Persons in the Sydney Catholic Weekly of 21 October.
The series was repeated in the South Australian Catholic weekly, the Southern Cross, with the milestones section being published on 29 October. It then appeared in the Advocate, "a Catholic Review of the Week", with the milestones appearing on 4 November.
It later appeared different form, as part of a 70-page booklet on the progress of migration published in March 1949. The December 1949 election was then looming, an election lost by the Labor Party to Robert Menzies’ Liberal-Country Party coalition.
A journalist inclined to irony, David McNicoll, included the launch of the booklet in his Town Talk column in the 8 March 1949 issue of the Daily Telegraph. See below.
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| Source: Trove 248149510 |
