§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the Secretary of Stale for the Colonies if the High Commissioner for Australia has communicated to him the contents of a message from the Minister for External Affairs, in which it is stated that no cases of immigrants being rejected for slight physical defects such as short sight, have occurred; and whether the Colonial Secretary has received a communication from a British workman, now residing at Whalley, Lancashire, who was recently refused a landing in Western Australia on the ground of short sight, though he has for the last twenty years never lost a day's work through sickness or physical inability to earn his living; and, if so, what action does he propose to take in the matter?
Mr. HARCOURTI have received from the High Commissioner for the Commonwealth the statement to which the hon. Gentleman refers. I have also received two letters from a resident of Whalley complaining of his rejection, and I have communicated the statement to the. Commonwealth Government.