Australian Jews Begin Movement to Colonize Immigrants; Seek Fund

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

A movement to settle Jewish immigrants on the land was inaugurated here by a group of influential Jewish leaders. An amount of £50,000 is now being raised by the group for this purpose.

Fifteen years ago eight Jewish families were settled at Shepparton, a hundred miles from Melbourne. Today they constitute a prosperous settlement, several of the original settlers having made fortunes as fruitgrowers. The settlement of Jewish market gardeners at Berwick, 27 miles from here, has also been highly successful.

The Australian government, particularly the province of Victoria, is anxious to encourage land settlement and offers liberal terms to settlers, helping in the purchase of the land and providing improvements. The state supplies the houses for the settlers and there is an abundant water supply.

State experts have expressed the belief that the Jewish settlement at Berwick will be among the show places of Victoria within a few years.

The Jewish Immigration Committee of Melbourne is seeking to extend Jewish land settlement and absorb a large number of Jewish immigrants who during the last two years have taxed the Jewish welfare organizations here.

New South Wales and Queensland have indicated willingness to cooperate in the undertaking. An Australian Jewish land Settlement Trust has been registered here.

During the last eighteen months over 2,000 Jewish immigrants have arrived in Melbourne. The majority of the immigrants are in need of employment. The average number of Jewish immigrants monthly is about 100 entering the port of Melbourne.