[Editor: This article, regarding the Immigration Restriction Bill, was published in The Herald (Melbourne, Vic.), 6 December 1901. When it became law, the Immigration Restriction Act formed the foundation of the White Australia Policy.]
In the Senate.
Immigration restriction.
There was a Christmas atmosphere about the meeting of the Senate this morning. On the previous day Senator Symon had desired to know at what time the Senate was going to rise for the Christmas holidays, and the vice-president of the Executive Council had asked him to postpone his request to the following day.
This morning Senator O’Connor indicated that the present intention of the Government was to adjourn on the 13th and the 14th of the present month, until January 15, although owing to the exigencies of public business in another place it must be necessary to resume earlier. Under these circumstances he could say no more at present.
At this juncture the President interposed on the subject of ventilation or rather the want of it which had been raised on the previous day. He explained that since the previous day he had learned that it had been the practice of the State Parliament to remove the crimson curtains which cut off the corridors of the Chamber. He proposed to take a similar action.
Senators Glassey and Playford, who both have selected a comfortable perch with the crimson curtain directly at their backs, expressed some mild discontent, more by looks than by words. “Too early,” said Mr Glassey. Otherwise no objection was raised.
As to the extra hours worked by the attendants, the President remarked it was proposed to give them compensation—a sentiment which the House agreed to with a hearty hear, hear.
The House then went into committee to further consider the Immigration Restriction Bill.
On the previous evening Senator McGregor had moved to insert in place of sub-clause A of clause 4 which prohibits the introduction of any person who fails to write out at dictation a passage of 50 words in an European language, to insert the words “any person who is an aboriginal native of Asia or Africa or of the Islands thereof.” This, of course, is an absolute rejection of the educational test, and after Senator Dobson had opposed the amendment Senator Walker moved a further amendment providing for the adoption of the Natal educational test. Senator O’Connor said that if the hon. member would leave the form of words to the officer, so that the intending immigrant could not learn the form of words, as was the case in Natal, he would be inclined to support the amendment. Senator Walker at once agreed to do so. Both Senators’ amendments were defeated, and a further amendment by Senator Stewart was withdrawn.
Senator Sir Frederick Sargood then took an objection to sub-section G, which prevents the importation of persons under any contract or agreement to perform manual labor within the Commonwealth. Much discussion followed, and after leaving clause A at the interesting position of “Any person who,” the committee abandoned the debate with the idea of discussing it later on.
On sub-clause 18, which provides for an annual return showing the number of persons refused admission to the Commonwealth, the nations to which they belong, and the reasons for which they were refused admission, Senator Higgs moved the insertion of an additional clause, showing the number of persons who are admitted.
After some little discussion Senator Higgs withdrew his amendment.
Coming back to the redoubtable clause 8, Senator Higgs moved that any aboriginal native of Asia or Africa or the Islands thereof, who arrived in the Commonwealth, prior to the passing of the Immigration Restriction Bill, should after January 1st, 1902, pay a fee of L5 per annum, during the time that he remained within the Commonwealth.
He added that neglect to comply with this provision should render the offender liable upon summary conviction to a fine not exceeding L100, or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months and in addition in substitution for such a fine or imprisonment the alien should by order of the Minister be deported from the Commonwealth.
The motion was hardly serious, and after a brief criticism, by Senator O’Connor, was withdrawn. Then the House went to lunch.
Source:
The Herald (Melbourne, Vic.), 6 December 1901, p. 5 (City Edition)
Editor’s notes:
another place = the other house of parliament; in the British parliamentary tradition (which is applicable to countries of the British Commonwealth) members of one house of parliament refer to the other house of parliament as “another place” or “the other place”, rather than referring to the other house by name; it is believed that the tradition dates back to a time when there was a high level of rivalry between the House of Commons and the House of Lords in the parliament of the United Kingdom (the tradition has been followed in the Australian parliament, in the House of Representatives and in the Senate)
See: “Another place”, Wikipedia
Commonwealth = the Commonwealth of Australia; the Australian nation, federated on 1 January 1901
exigencies = plural of “exigency”: an urgent need or demand; a demand or difficulty of a situation, especially one that creates an urgent need or requirement for action; an emergency; a case or situation that demands an urgent action or remedy
hear, hear = an exclamatory phrase which is used to voice approval or to express agreement, especially used at debates, meetings, and events (after a debater, lecturer, speaker, or toastmaster has expressed a particular opinion or made a certain point, listeners may say “hear, hear”, so as to demonstrate agreement with or approval of something which has been said)
hon. = an abbreviation of “honourable”, especially used as a style to refer to government ministers, or as a courtesy to members of parliament (as a style, it is commonly capitalised, e.g. “the Hon. Member”)
House = (in the context of the Australian Senate and Senators) the Senate (the federal Upper House); can also refer to Parliament House, or to the House of Representatives (the federal Lower House)
L = an abbreviation used to represent the “pound” monetary unit (i.e. the British-style currency denomination used in Australia, prior to the decimalisation of Australia’s currency on 14 February 1966); the abbreviation stems from the Latin “librae” (or “libra”, a basic unit of weight used in ancient Rome; from the Latin “libra” for “scales” or “balance”); pounds were commonly symbolized by a pound sign “£” (a stylized “L”) or by “L” (or “l”)
member = (in the context of parliament or parliamentarians) Member of Parliament
Natal = a British colony in south-east Africa, created in 1843 when the British took over the Natalia Republic (1839-1843, a Boer republic); in 1910 Natal became the Province of Natal, as part of the Union of South Africa
See: 1) “Colony of Natal”, Wikipedia
2) “Natal (province)”, Wikipedia
[Editor: Changed “ventillation” to “ventilation”, “atteendants” to “attendants”.]
[Editor: The original text has been separated into paragraphs.]
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