[Header:] COPY.

Office of the High Commissioner for the Commonwealth of Australia in India

Australia Office,

Connaught Place,

NEW DELHI. [underlined]

Del No. 585/48. [underlined]

30th July, 1948

MEMORANDUM [underlined] for:

The Secretary,

Department of External Affairs,

CANBERRA. [underlined]

(Copy to: Acting Director-General, Department of Information)

[Underlined heading:] Film: "LAND SHORT OF PEOPLE".

Further to our memorandum No. 559/48 of 23rd July, the above film was viewed by Mr. Keating and myself on my return from Calcutta. It is based on the familiar pattern of the "March of Time" series. Industrial and agricultural scenes are excellent and in treatment are for the most part not dissimilar to such scenes in our official releases. Australian resources are impressively represented as being utilised and developed and it is not felt that the atmosphere of plenty and progress sould [sic] have aprovocative [sic] effect on Asian peoples any more than many films, including newsreels, which are regularly shown before audiences in this part of the world.

2. But the title is not the happiest. Unfortunately, also, the last few minutes of the commentary are devoted to the problem of Australia's under-population. At this stage the expression "White Australia" is unnecessarily used and the commentator puts forward the provocative question – the spice in the commentary – whether, in view of the improbability of Britain supplying enough migrants, Australia may not have to modify her immigration policy in relation to her Asian neighbours.

3. Except for the title, and the specific reference to "White Australia" as a policy, we are of the opinion that there would not be justification for making representations to have the film withdrawn from circulation here. It is being returned to the local distributors (who have been most co-operative) and they are being asked if they can give us some idea of the amount of showing the film has had or is likely to have in India and neighbouring countries of South East Asia. They will also be asked what modifications are possible in the title and in the commentary.

4. We do not feel that we can go further at the moment but suggest that pending our further enquiries you might view the film in Australia where it is assumed a print is available. It is a J. Arthur Rank production, released by General Distributors, and is No. 15 of the series known as "This Modern Age".

5. In a general way we feel that if Australian representatives in London were in a position to discuss films about Australia with producers before final recording, it would avoid the need for considering afterwards the question of seeking modifications or even the exclusion of certain films from South East Asian countries.

(sgd) [signed] J.C.G. Kevin

Official Secretary [underlined]