1 MAY 1971, Page 27

Expatriating precedent

Here is my piece of odd information: since the end of World Warn the British govern- ment has been making financial contribution towards the fares of British subjects migrat- ing to Australia. The present five-year agree- ment—by which Britain pays the Australian government £150,000 per annum—expires in 1972. But Australia House seems to think it will be renewed. There seems—to me any- way—a precedent here for repatriation. If the British government has paid so many millions to get rid of the British from Britain it seems illogical that there should be such a fuss towards it paying to repatriate foreigners from Britain. I don't know whether the Foreign Office also subsidises immigrant schemes to South Africa or Canada.