Tweed Daily

2Oct39: Final of series on ‘Troubles of Banana Industry.’
5Oct39: 38 aliens so far registered Murbah Police Station
13Oct39: Puzzles for Police – Aliens weak in English.
6/8/9Nov1939: Dutch Consul-General in company with Mr Anthony MHR looking at suitability of land for Dutch immigrants and invited to open Mullumbimby Show. 700 unnaturalised Dutch in Aust at the time. Earlier Mr Hartland, Director of Migration in Holland, had flown out at invitation of Sir Earle Page. Hartland plus Mr Van der Putte, Dutch immigration officer in Aust, had only toured as far as Grafton. Mr Anthony said No better types were available than the Dutch people whose qualities, character and traditions were very close to those of the British. +Editorial on Mussolini

3Jan40: Development levels-off Murbah. 62 buildings valued at £17,776 in 1939, but 70 at £28,768 in 1938.
6Feb40: Mullum Police District Stats. Main Arm biggest community after Mullum.
9Mar40: Mr Anthony attends Tweed BGF meeting and says he will always be ‘on guard’ in Federal Parliament in the interests of the banana growers…
14Mar40: Save Australia From Swamping by Aliens. Governor of South Aust.
15/19Mar40: Reply to Governor. Govt policy was to seek as many immigrants as possible from Britain, and failing this it had to seek the next best thing…
30Mar40: Banana prices rising Mullum.
25Apr40: Letter from ‘Reasonable’ re poor wages to banana workers.
7Jun40: Arrest of Aliens.
12/13Jun40: Queensland Swoop on Italians.
13Jun40: Italians in Richmond. Over 300 in Lismore district.
14Jun40: The Italian population in the Murwillumbah police district is very small and is practically confined to district banana plantations. No disturbances of any kind have been made…. says Officer-in-Charge Murbah
19Jun40: The AWU standing behind Italians. …..Any action against foreigners is for the Federal Govt, and no other body has any right to interfere with that authority. On behalf of Aust and the sugar industry, and the union and all workers, we appeal for loyalty to the decision urging growers to sign on cane cutters….without any regard to their nationality…
20Jun40: Demonstration against alien shop keepers. Treatment of Foreigners – Appeal to AWU workers
27Jun40: 283 enlistments so far Murbah.

2Jul40: Internment of Aliens
11Jul40: Mr Anthony MHR said he had discovered that many naturalized aliens, particularly Italians, were purchasing a considerable quantity of farming property…
15Jul40: Intern All Enemy Aliens. Brunswick BGF. Mr Tandy moves motion on internment and says that the NSW Premier (Mr Mair) and Mr H.L. Anthony MHR were behind the movement for the internment of aliens…
18Jul40: Mr Anthony tells Attorney-General to look at Lismore for evidence of Italians acquiring land.
19Jul40: Anthony MHR receives telegram from Menzies re purchase of land by Italians
24/25Jul40: Federal Government imposes drastic restrictions on enemy aliens and nationals of occupied countries in acquisition of freehold and leasehold land. + shops, businesses, dwellings next day.
5Aug40: Italian detained Lismore.
23Sep40: Federal Election results. Mr Anthony wins every subdivision from 2 Labor candidates. First time for many years that the Country Party won Murbah township.
1/11Oct40: Banana labourers want £3/10/- per week.
15Oct40: BGF takes action against alien employees.
5Nov40: Spokesman for Greek community interviewed by Tweed Daily. Greeks of the North Coast contribute liberally to a fund for the purchase of a fighter aircraft for the Commonwealth.
7Nov40: Start of Greek War Relief Fund. 16 Greek contributors so far.
7Nov40 Attacks on Enemy Aliens article.
8Nov40: Enemy Aliens to be Controlled. +Editorial Praise for Greeks.
12Nov40: Banana industry workers to form union.
19Nov40: Lismore Fund to Aid Greeks.
3Dec40: Murbah Rotary hosts Greek Communities of Tweed, Richmond and Brunswick.  Address by Angelo Crethar of Lismore. + separate article on Greek War Relief Fund. (29 Greek names listed in contributors)
21Dec40: Greek girls in national costume rattle collection boxes streets of Murbah

8/14Jan41: Greek Appeal
9/10/16/18/22Jan41: Murbah and Mullum district population statistics.
14/17Jan/15/20/21/26Feb2041: Tweed District campaign for Greek War Relief Fund.
30Jan41: Grief of Greek Community in Murwillumbah. General Metaxas dead. (no mention of rejoicing in Macedonian community) (+ police raid four premises of sect known as ‘Jehovah’s Witnesses’… and seize …copies of Watch Tower.)
1/3/4/6/13Mar41: Greek Day celebrations / appeal now over £475.
10Mar41: Lismore Greeks ‘Band Sunday’ features 7 bands.
17Mar41: Tweed BGF ask Mr Anthony to request military authorities to use discrimination in call up of banana workers.
24Mar41: Aliens in Banana Industry. Brunswick BGF. Mr Overall of Cudgera moved, that all aliens, naturalized or otherwise, be prohibited…. Mr Tandy said that when things get back to normal the best part of the banana industry will be controlled by aliens… No Main Arm representative present.
27Mar41: Riotous Behaviour Murbah – Italians attacked on a bus.
3Apr41: Richmond BGF agrees to withdraw motion that planting licenses should not be issued to aliens. ...In the Brunswick area… aliens other than enemy aliens were picking the eyes out of the industry. …

[3Apr41 Northern Star: ‘Aliens in Banana Industry”. … Mr R.W. Wittleton said there were a number of Italians on the district council and he knew that they keenly felt the position. The Italians he added, had practically been invited into the country and encouraged by a trade agreement. They had a right to live and if the war had not broken out it is possible the feeling would never have existed. If the resolution which had been submitted was adopted, it would mean that aliens would be hurt who, although loyal subjects of Australia, had foolishly neglected their naturalization. On the other hand, added Mr Wittleton, there had been a number of aliens that had made statements which had aroused the ire of Australian farmers… Mr Wittleton added that the position was arousing violent opposition and was working towards mob rule if the growers’ organizations could not do anything. A lot of the trouble has been caused by aliens speaking out of their turn and saying cheeky things. I don’t care how hard an unloyal man is hit, but there is also the loyal man to be considered said Mr Wittleton…..Mr Whipps said that aliens in Australia were treated liberally in comparison to the treatment in other countries. ‘We want to give everyone a fair go. There are loyal aliens in this country and we want to encourage them as we have too many disloyal men of our own’, he said.]

4Apr41: Greek nationals now exempt from alien restrictions.
7Apr41: Germany invades Greece.
17May41: State elections. Budd pips Stuart
2 and 16Jun41: Fear of overproduction and price fall. Move to make membership of BGF compulsory for all growers and get unity of action.
16/19Jun41: Brunswick BGF.  Mullum sub-branch successfully got up motion that … all enemy aliens be withdrawn from all primary industries; failing this, all enemy aliens, without exception, be interned…
25Jun41: BGF. Danger of overproduction.
28Jun41: Canberra: The purchase and planting out of land by aliens will be restricted… under a plan… to be put to Agricultural Conference which began to-day.
30Jun41: Move to Check Infiltration of Aliens Urged. Grafton meeting. The Assistant Minister for Commerce (Mr Anthony) said…. that some aliens were entering onto share-farming agreements, which were, in reality, purchase agreements…
10Jul41: Board of Directors BGF propose to restrict planting for all growers.
21/22Jul41: Aliens In Banana Industry – Committee to Investigate. Murbah RSL. Legislation to prohibit enemy aliens, naturalized or not, from getting planting permits.

1/6Aug41: BGF meeting. Stats and fear of overproduction.
29Jul41: Banana conference Grafton to discuss infiltration of aliens.
2Aug41: Letter from N.S. Kellie McCallum of Coorabell Creek. …Any suggestion of overcoming the trouble by interning growers of enemy alien birth and destroying their plantations….is not cricket.
5Aug41: Will be Close Watch on Infiltration – Banana Industry and Enemy Aliens. Ministers of Ag of NSW and Qld meet Grafton.
6Aug41: Minister for Ag addresses Legislative Assembly. Planting permits for aliens and overproduction.
15Aug41: Letter from ‘Banana Grower’. Over-production. Big syndicates the problem.
26Aug41: BGF meeting. Protest over British growers being refused planting permits. + Advert: Men wanted for Banana Plantation. Apply H.L. Anthony, Murwillumbah.
1Sep41: Mullum BGF. Resolve to write to Mr Budd MLA and remind him of promise to do something about Main Arm roads.
2Sep41: Brunswick BGF. The Mott Scheme for tenant farmers. Proposal for licensing system. Mr Tandy on the enemy amongst us and declaring products of unnaturalized enemy aliens black. And debate on Finns.
13Sep41: Tweed BGF. Protest against the action of the Department of Agriculture in recently refusing to issue planting permits to British growers. … Some foreign powers were taking the view that they would be justified in taking Australia by force if the present population restricted its development…. The adoption of 10 acres as a living area was unreasonable…+ Norco meeting quietest on record.
8Oct/22Nov41: Good returns bananas. BGF grant bonuses
28Oct41: Brunswick BGF. Mr Mott elected president. Resolution that the BGF board be asked to declare the products of enemy aliens black… That the board write to Mr A.E. Budd MLA… about the Main Arm road. … Mott assured by Mr Sweeney MLA that Mr Budd would receive every assistance from Labor members…
4Nov41: 1100 men from Tweed enlisted so far.
9Dec41: William Baker, former editor of Mullum Star, and son of W.R. dies Brisbane. Brother-in-law of Murbah solicitor Peter Street. Cousin of James Baker of Murbah.
17Dec41: Federal Cabinet decided to approve of the existing policy relating to alien immigration into Australia being modified to permit the entry of Greek nationals whose admission must be sponsored by the Greek War Relief Fund Committee… Up to 1000 will be admitted… + Byron Shire …because of the position of the dairy industry it was going to be hard to get the rates in. The council had carried a large overdraft practically since its inception… + rates increase Mullum Municip but will not compensate for loss of revenue.
18Dec41: Doug Anthony graduates from Primary school Murbah.

6/15Jan42: Army takes ~1600 cases bananas/week.
29Jan42: Curtailment movements enemy aliens.
30Jan/2Feb42: Stock Evacuation Scheme and Scorched Earth Policy
3Feb42: Destruction of banana plantations and evacuation of people and stock. Moved that the BGF approach Mr H.L. Anthony MHR asking him to secure an assurance from the Government that the banana growers would be allowed a bonus of 6/- a case, in view of the proposed destruction of banana plantations in the event of an invasion.
6Feb42: ‘Aliens must register for National Service’. All aliens aged 18 and over must register …..not later than 10Feb. Allied, neutral and refugee aliens could volunteer for service in the Australian Military Service… Refugee aliens had until February 17 to enlist voluntarily in labor units.
7Feb42: Qld alien stats.
11Feb42: Lismore Municip debate interning aliens.
14Feb42: Diggers’ Move to Intern All Enemy Aliens. Mullum RSL. … A petition signed by the members of the sub-branch will be presented to Mr H.L. Anthony MHR with the request that he support a move to have all enemy aliens interned…. Seconding the Motion (moved by Mr F.R. Tandy), Mr N. Rollo declared the best place for aliens was behind barbed wire….+ separate articles Curfew Ordered for Enemy Aliens in Queensland and  Plan to Put Enemy Aliens to Work + Trenches being Dug.
16Feb42: Intern All Enemy Aliens Immediately. Combined meeting of Murbah, Tweed Heads and Coolangatta RSLs. … The motion, Mr Roberts said, referred to all aliens, naturalized or otherwise… Plus employment of POWS and internees and other stuff… Mr A Buckley, general secretary of the BGF, … said there were 285 aliens engaged in the banana industry. Most of these were Italian. The industry… might result in its control by aliens… the position of some Italians was unfortunate, but the seriousness of the position did not permit of any exceptions…
17Feb42: Demand for Internment of Enemy Aliens. Murbah RSL. … Mr A. Buckley said that last year no alien, whether naturalized or not, had received a permit to plant bananas… Retail fruit shops in Sydney vacated by Australians … were being taken over by aliens…. + separate article on correction on yesterday’s motion. Roberts says he meant enemy aliens only. + Singapore falls. + International Red Cross advise neutral food ships cannot get through to Greece despite German guarantee.
18Feb42: Italians, Germans, Bulgarians, Rumanians, Hungarians, Finns and Japs must report immediately to police.
23Feb42: 500yds of trenches so far dug Murbah High School.
26Feb42: Murbah Council debates interning. +Two Enemy Aliens Fined £15 Each. Cargnoni brothers driving car outside hours permitted.
27Feb42: Urges That All Enemy Aliens Be Interned. Public meeting called by Mayor Winterbon passes RSL resolutions. Seconded by Cr Boyd, Pres of Tweed Shire Council. Committee formed with the sole object of securing throughout the Tweed district the… unanimous support of resolutions. [G. Winterton, R.W. Boyd, W. Mackay (Pres Murbah RSL), J.W. Miller, A. Buckley, J. Knudsen, E. Watson. F.W. Stuart, H. J.A. Brown]

3Mar42: Burringbar RSL follows Murbah RSL on internment resolutions.
4Mar42: Alien Internment Move Supported by P and C. + another Anthony advert for banana labourers.
4Mar42 (or4Jul42? Check): ‘Used Insulting Words to Officer’ – Court Sequel. Mullum court. Gino Pagura tells Lt Matterson ‘I am a better Australian than you…’.
5Mar42: ‘No Friendly Enemy Aliens’ Mayor Says – Council Requests Internment.
7Mar42: Alien Internment – Cane Growers Support. + slit trenches Mullum and Tweed Heads. + detail about evacuation plans proving a problem + Anthony speech in parliament about ‘Climate of fear’ gripping country.
9Mar42: Murbah branch of Federated Municipal and Shire Council Employees Union want interning.
10/12/13Mar42: Formation of mounted guerrilla force. + PPU want interning. + Twin Towns RSL public meeting. + Byron Bay wants Govt to provide and subsidise an alien doctor.
13Mar42: Cudgen votes to intern enemy aliens. + National Emergency Service branches formed all Tweed Shire centres.
16Mar42: Mr Anthony’s proposal for closing businesses in afternoons so employees receive military training  - at a meeting of Murbah BGF. + Twin Towns demand for internment of aliens. + Evacuation is un-Australian said Mr Eggins MLC of Lismore. + Mr F.W. Stuart, Chairman of the Internment of Aliens Committee, Murbah.
18Mar42: Public meeting Murbah. Mr Anthony says ‘There will, without doubt, be an attack on Australia’ and retail scheme on closing shops for employee military training. (20Mar in Lismore with same proposal)
21Mar42: Intern Enemy Aliens – Full War Effort. Murbah public meeting in Broadway. Stuart brings Yeats MLA to address crowd. + Guerilla Cavalry Force.
27Mar42: Mr Fadden MHR, Leader of Opposition, calls for immediate action to intern aliens, excluding nationals of Allied and friendly nations.... +Mr Anthony and BGF delegation seek emergency powers to provide levy for banana transport.
27Mar42: QLD police call for power to prevent the use of the Italian language in public in Nth Qld. Minister for Army said such a request would be considered.
28Mar42: PM Curtin would not declare for the mass internment of enemy aliens.

11Apr42: BGF proposal that bananas grown by enemy aliens be the first to be left behind if there are transport problems. And no enemy alien be accepted as a member of the BGF.
11Apr42: Manpower Difficulty Confronts Banana Industry – Request for Internee Labor Gangs. Tweed BGF. Submission being prepared for Mr Anthony MHR…. Mr Eastwood said very few alien growers owned their land…
3Jul42: Phil Tarlington dies. Big Obit. Founder of Tweed Daily
10Jul42: Internees, War Prisoners for Road Works. A request for prisoner of war and internee labour to assist in maintaining Tweed roads is repair is to be made to the authorities through Mr H.L. Anthony MHR, by Tweed Shire Council… +Norco says subsidy to dairy industry of £6.5 million came into effect 1Apr42. + things continue to calm down when Navy returns boats to owners due ‘watercraft demobilization’ (and 4Nov on Tweed boat owners.)

3Aug42: Shortage of labour for cane cutting season. Only 85 men signed on Richmond out of 300 required. Harvest already 1000 tons per week behind. 30 aliens, mostly Italian, promised work at Harwood, but authorities will not send them further north. Total 351,000 tons estimated for Tweed, Richmond and Clarence but only 45,000 tons cut to date with 22 weeks of season remaining.
30Sep42: Little prospect of internees working outside camps as farm labourers due lack of guards. And cannot be compelled due international convention. Has to be voluntary.
5Oct42: Allied Works Council cooks on award £5/16/6 per week, but average café paying £13/5/4 due overtime. + other trade stats - carpenters, builders labourers - overtime almost doubling award wage due labour shortage.
6/8Oct42: Aliens and Bananas. BGF sent off protest on rumours that planting restrictions to be lifted on aliens. Minister for Ag reassures.
27Oct42: Mullum BGF. Small growers to get preference for cases over larger concerns. Bower again elected Mullum director BGF board. 2d/case levy bunchy top.
3/7Dec42: Banana growers poaching each others labour. All labour requirements to go through police as agents for the National Service Office.
12Dec42: Tweed BGF. Letter to Minister for Labour to make internee labour available. + letter of appreciation to Min for Ag re planting permits aliens
24Dec42: Andrew Snabb of Possum Shoot, Finn and enemy alien, planting new acreage.

5Jan43: George F. Nicklin, founder of Tweed Herald, dies age 74 Brisbane. ‘Journalist of the old school, hard hitting and forthright….’ Spent time in banana industry Beewah after leaving Murbah. Founded the fruit journal ‘Nicko’s’. 2 sons and 1 dau. Son G.F.R. Nicklin was leader of Opposition QLD at time.
19Jan43: Deception by Aliens Alleged – Securing More Land. Murbah RSL. released a letter-to-the-press alleging deception by aliens on the North Coast to obtain additional land for planting bananas.
The letter stated …there were cases on the north coast of aliens – friendly and enemy – still enjoying all the privileges available to them in peace time and even profiting from the existing conditions.
…It is common knowledge on the North Coast that aliens are defeating regulations by obtaining new lands in the names of their wives, some of whom are Australian born, and by the use of fictitious names, and having obtained additional land in this manner they are free to secure permits to plant bananas and thereby benefit themselves while our boys are away fighting to keep this country free.
…In the matter of service, either in the forces or on national work, aliens, both enemy and friendly, should not be given the advantage of obtaining exemptions.
The existing state of affairs is creating considerable resentment and strong representations should be made by the league to the authorities for an immediate investigation into activities of all aliens and for an alteration in the present Government outlook, with a view to having all aliens placed in the armed services or on national work.
RSL State Headquarters wrote back asking for specific instances to support the allegations.  + Tweed Self-Help Banana Case Committee.
23/25Jan43: BGF AGM. …Today growers are enjoying a prosperity unequaled in the industry’s history in NSW…. + Stats + cases

8Feb43: Banana labourers 2/- per hour plus free accom.
24Feb43: BGF board. Little progress on securing internee labour.
2Mar43: Banana cases to be declared a ‘commodity’. … alleged that in one district an Italian grower had 1400 cases stowed away, while there was not another grower who had more than 14… and alleged that four trucks of case timber came into the district (Main Arm), three of which were for alien growers. … alien growers had no loyalty to the Federation and if not stopped they would have a large portion of the fruit on the market. … it was wrong for thousands of cases to go into sheds to be ‘frozen’ when they should be distributed… +Tweed Primary Producers Union meeting want increase in butter subsidy.
15Mar43: More banana stats. Submission again made to manpower authorities for labourers. Weedy plantations a menace to industry. Prosecutions not working. + Community realises ‘that the banana industry was richer today than ever previously in its history’ and want BGF help for next war loan.
16Mar43: Miss Gaggin buried Palmwoods estate. Palmwoods the largest area of thriving banana plantations in one spot in NSW.
25Mar43: Subsidy for superphosphate.
4May43: 11 men arrive Murbah to work on North Coast banana farms. Supplied by the Allied Works Council.
22May43: Award for banana workers to be gazetted

5Jun43: Murbah branch of ALP formed.  T.S. Prince elected president. A.V. Dodd, pres of Lismore branch endorsed to stand against Mr Anthony. + New ration books issued. + Proposed Banana Workers’ Award – Unofficial draft agreement between BGF and AWU. Over 19yr olds to get £4/18/- for 48hr week. 16yr olds £2/15/-
9Jun43: Letter from ‘Banana Worker’. Much has been said lately through the columns of your paper about the unhappy position of the dairy farmer… but ... Apr41 AWU tried to issue banana workers with union tickets… now workers should share increased profits of ‘capitalist’ growers
11Jun43: Growers’ View of Banana Workers’ Award. + proposal to introduce 1 bushell cases in lieu of 1.5 case. (+19 and 28Jun43 on wages – growers still poaching each others labour.) + subsidy to dairy industry £6.5m.
17Jun43: Proposed Award for dairy labourers.
9Jul43: Allied Works Council give priority for labour to plantations of growers on active service being managed by agents or family. + banana workers
12/14Jul43: POW labour.
22Jul43: 40 aborigines arrive from Brewarrina for cane cutting Tweed.
28Jul43: BGF. Proposed award wages for banana labours. +Country Party opening Policy Speech for elections
30Jul43: Mr Anthony opens campaign Murbah. Large Advert: Reds in Control of Labor.

5Aug43: Objections to Aliens at Meeting. Lismore BGF. … “I think it is wrong that we should have aliens here at our meetings ruling the destinies of our organization,’ declared Mr E.C. Payne at the annual meeting of the Richmond District Council of the Banana Grower’s Federation at Lismore today.
‘They come here, and to my mind it is wrong,’ he added. ‘I am very much against it: I feel very strongly on the matter. I know that we who have people in the army feel this position. These Italians are waxing wealthy through being able to carry on their business without any restrictions. They are a clannish crowd and are making money, and we have to put up with a great deal of hardship.
Mr Payne added that he understood that the people in question represented branches which were defunct and attended the meeting by invitation. Whether it was a right thing for the secretary to invite these people or leave them out was an open question.
The secretary (Mr J.T.Payne) said he had just followed out the procedure which had always been adopted.
The president Mr T.M. Ronan said that no one was entitled to attend as a delegate unless invited by the district council.
On the motion of Mr Payne a small committee was formed to deal with the question of representation.
Mr A.C. Joubert, fruit inspector of the Department of Agriculture, was questioned regarding plantations which had changed hands. He said that he did not think that an unnaturalised enemy alien could take up a lease under any circumstances for more than one month.
‘Officially we cannot demand notification of transfers,’ he said. ‘Transfers may be faking (sic) place of which we know nothing.’
The secretary said that transfers should not be given without the approval of the inspector. If an owner of land transferred a lease without approval of the inspector he came within the law.
14Aug43: No Provision under Law for Award in Banana Industry.
Govt would use any increase in Butter Price to Offset Subsidy.
16Aug43: White Ants in the House. Radio broadcast on Communists by Mr Anthony.
Move for Appeal Board for Banana Growers Fails. Against decisions by Dept Ag on planting permits. 5 acres most one man can look after, 2 men for 12 acres…
23/24Aug43: Election Results. Swing to Labor

18Nov43: Alleged Infiltration by Aliens. Murbah RSL. ...considerable time was spent in discussing the extent to which, it was alleged, aliens generally were taking advantage of the war situation to infiltrate in all avenues of industry and production, often to the detriment of either the present or future prospects of those nationals whose service to the country had put them under a very serious handicap. The position generally, it was stated, was seriously aggravated by the fact that in so many cases, while the national had suffered by a ready compliance with the law of the land, in case after case cited the alien was left to take advantage of the position. … A typical case cited was that of the Worthington Brothers. With eight years of excellent road transport service…. Brown Bros one of the oldest carrying firms… On the other hand it was alleged that an alien firm continued to transport goods to and from Brisbane… without a license… not prosecuted… but on the contrary was continuing to build up the business…
Other cases were cited, and all members present seemed of the opinion that the time had come for more militant action…
20Nov43: (NS?) Lismore RSL. ‘In view of the Commonwealth Government having set up machinery to deal with immigration as a part of postwar reconstruction, I think the time is opportune for returned soldiers to give the matter some consideration’ said Mr T. Cooling at Thursday night’s meeting of Lismore sub-branch of the RSSAILA. Mr Cooling moved: (1) That after the war all Axis prisoners and unnaturalised aliens of Axis countries and sympathisers during this war must leave the country at a given date; (2) that no nationals of Axis countries, or sympathisers be allowed to enter the Commonwealth for 20 years; (3) that all Italian schools be closed; and (4) that all Italian newspapers be suppressed. The motion was carried.
26Nov43: Mr Anthony advises BGF unlikely to get more Allied Works Council labourers + banana industry low priority for POWs this stage.
10Dec43: Reduction in Banana Production. BGF AGM at Coffs. To Jun30 last 1,294,295 cases NSW + 73,730 from SEQ. = decrease of 164,145. Acreage wef 1Apr = 15,945 acres, decrease of 1275.

3Feb44: Alleged Dummying in Transfer of Banana Plantations. Lismore BGF meeting. Allegations that ‘dummy’ transactions were taking place in the banana industry were made at a meeting of the Richmond District Council of the banana Growers’ federation in Lismore today.
Particulars were given regarding these alleged bogus transactions. In one case it was stated the former grower had left the district and the plantation was being worked by an Italian. The allegation was that the bananas were consigned in the name of the original grower and that when the cheques came in a distribution was made. The position was such that the BGF did not really know who was the actual owner of the plantation.
It was also stated that there were other cases of a similar nature and that although the attention of the authorities had been drawn to the matter no satisfaction had been obtained.
The meeting was also informed of a case in which a returned soldier was granted a permit for 10 acres but the plantation in question was being worked by an Italian who made claims however, that the returned soldier was still the owner.
In the course of discussions these transactions were described as ‘underhand’.
The feeling of the meeting was that an effort should be made to reintroduce the registration of banana plantations so that there would be no doubt as to the actual ownership.
The resolution recommending the board to bring registration into effect was passed unanimously, and it was also agreed that the registration should be 1/- per acre, with a minimum of 5/-.
12Feb44: Employment of Former Italian Internees – Questions about Italians. +Buckley, Gen Sec BGF, stands State election. +100% increase in bunchy top disease Tweed. +Norco seeks increase price of butter from Prices Commission. +Nimbin Police committed for trial re extortion of Italians.
15Feb44: Mullum BGF.  Board recently made application for POW labour. Agric Council approves POWS for dairy farms. 55,000 men to be released from army for agric work + formation of emergency rural labor corps

1Mar44: POWs for Tweed and Brunswick Farms. Up to 3 max per individual farm or plantation.
6Mar44: Registration of Banana Plantations.
9Mar44: Damages Claim against Anthony Fails. Mr Anthony was unsuccessfully sued by the unforgiving commies for saying …It is necessary that the Australian people should know that an instruction has been issued by the Communist Party to its members that they must interject at meetings of Opposition candidates, particularly the leaders, and make enthusiastic demonstrations at the meetings of Labour leaders.
13Mar44: Applications for 60 Italian prisoners of war by 26 Tweed District farmers were endorsed by Tweed-Brunswick District War Agricultural Committee….. Total of 100 alloted. Limit of three per farmer. Application refused to a banana grower who wanted labour to plant up a large area of bananas. The committee expressed opposition to the use of prisoners of war for such a purpose.
20Mar44: Germans Seeking Naturalization – Lismore RSL Concern. …If you want preferential treatment in Australia you have to be an enemy alien. …..If I had anything to do with it, I would naturalize them all by sending them back to their own country…..Farmers were up against the difficulty of getting petrol and tyres, but when he visited the Tuntable district, he added, he saw the destruction caused by the storm last November. There were still people with no roof over their head or bails for their cattle. Mr Fisher said he also saw Italian banana growers with humpies taking enough iron to cover a dozen houses.
23Mar44: Civil Alien Corps wages.
24Mar44: ‘The swing of the pendulum,’ was the description applied by Cr J.C. Priest at Tweed Shire Council meeting yesterday to the overwhelming competition nowadays presented by the high wages paid in the banana industry to the labour pool from which the council normally would obtain many of its road workers. A few years ago Cr Priest said, the shire council’s wages were definitely the best offering. Banana growers then were paying only 1/- an hour. Some were paying only 10d said Cr C.E. Cox…  +Dairy Subsidy Payments.
25Mar44: First batch of 12 POWs arrive. Further batches of 12 at 4 day intervals until quota of 100 reached. Capt McCarthy rejects farmers proposing to house Italians in cow bails. POWs have to wear magenta red uniforms. Farmers have to pay £1 a week to each prisoner, but collected by supervising army staff and not paid direct to prisoner. Weekly supply truck enables POWs to buy essentials.
26Mar44: Letter-to-Editor. Protest that discharged diggers unhappy over POW labour of £1 a week plus keep.
30Mar44: New Move to Increase Size of Municipality. Murbah statistics given.

1Apr44: Review of cases of Internees and compensation.
4Apr44: 12 Italian POWs arrive Murbah. 3 allotted Terranora, 3 Carool, 3 Byrill Creek, 3 Mount Burrell. ….appeared to be a fairly good class of Italian. All 18 or 19yrs old. Conspicuous in maroon uniforms.
11Apr44: Protest Against Enemy Aliens On Land. – by Australian Natives Association Conference in Brisbane.
12Apr44: Demand has been so great that 200 Italian POWS now allotted for Tweed-Brunswick farms.
14Apr44: Shortage of banana workers. Retail price of bananas reaches 4d each.
15Apr44: 170 Tweed-Bruns farmers make application for Italian POWs.
19Apr44: Watch by RSL – Effects of Employment of War Prisoners. Complaining that POW labour will keep returned soldiers from getting a job. But ...the labour shortage on the Tweed was so acute that 400 war prisoners could be absorbed. + Complete reorganization of BGF transport system
20Apr44: Mullum RSL. …Government side-stepping its obligations regarding preference to returned soldiers …the government is being subservient to the wishes of the ACTU which he alleged was the final arbiter of the affairs of the country.
POWS may now work in milking sheds and do actual milking. 182 applications now received for POWS. Tweed-Brunswick quota increased to 200.

2May44: War Prisoner Labour. Advice to Banana Growers.  …definitely opposed to growers using this type of labour to increase their acreage…… Growers to make application to the District War Agricultural Committee.
Farmers Pleased with War Prisoner labour. …….to date 71 Italians had arrived….by the middle of this month 108 expected. Mr Eastwood, Chairman of the DWAC and banana honch, said He was sending away requisitioning for prisoners almost daily. War prisoner control centres to be shortly set up at Grafton and Lismore.
Forde, Acting Prime Minister, Stresses Australia’s Need For Migrants. Prejudices and many preconceived ideas which existed in Australia against immigration must be cast away if we are to continue to hold this country after the war.
3May44: Bruns BGF meeting. Dummying and registration.
4May44: BGF to blame for case millers giving up because of poor prices.
8May44: Alick Buckley, Gen Sec BGF, Dep Mayor Murbah, Pres RSL, Manager South African Timber Co, endorsed as Country Party candidate.
10/11May44: New banana prices. To be sold by weight. Retail price fixed at 9d a lb in Sydney markets and max wholesale at 7d. in Sydney markets. Represents a retail price of about 2/3d – 3/6d a dozen for eight inch bananas. A premium of a penny above those prices, both wholesale and retail, would be allowed on Lady Fingers and Sugar bananas. BGF agree to guarantee min of 75lbs of fruit per case, ensuring a min of 39/1 per case.
15May44: More praise for POWs. Mr Armstrong, BGF Chairman and member of the DWAC said he believed that a number of farmers who applied for three prisoners did so in order that one would be available to cook. With three prisoners, these farmers had more labour than they required, and he did not know what they were going to do with the men. It would have been better for the district as a whole for 200 farmers to each have one prisoner than for 60 to have three each. Although the district’s quota of prisoners was only 200 – which was double the original allotment – applications for 236 already had been received and more would be expected…. Committee decided to ask for quota to be raised to 250. Mr Eastwood informed meeting that 108 so far arrived and been placed on the Tweed and Brunswick. +procedures for securing release of men from army.
17May44: Butter subsidy now costing £8,400,000 per year.
19May44: Aust Legion of Ex Servicemen and Women formed from combination of Demobilized Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen Assoc and 2^nd Aust Ex Serv Assoc. Now biggest after RSSAILA.
24May44: Large Anti communist article
29May44: Byron Election results. Stephens Country Party beats Labour Dodd with preferences from Buckley of BGF and Stuart of alien committee. (Stuart, Progressive CP, replaced Mayor  Winterbon who withdrew)

2Jun44: 6281 POWs now on farms. Further 6500 being allocated
5Jun44: Tweed PPU requests travelling gangs of POWs. +Reduction of current butter ration by 25%. +Tweed District Council RSL reckon that there’s £100,000 hoarded in Murbah ready for land acquisition by speculators and aliens, and dummying assertions
6Jun44: Further 21 POWs arrive and brings total to full quota of 200 for Tweed-Bruns
Number of Internees to be released – 100 Italians.
8Jun44: Applications for POWs nearly 300 on Tweed and Brunswick. Over 50% of POWs working on banana plantations. Lismore and Kyogle war prisoner control centres to be set up. Lismore already had received applications for 200. Talk of Mullumbimby also becoming a control centre.
Cane cutters, more highly unionised, determining how POWs can be used on cane farms.
13Jun44: Anthony intervenes to secure release of soldiers for cane cutting. Told that aliens who worked on the Rivers last year would not be able to return as they were all in Nth QLD. +Mullum RSL. Alleged Breach of POW Rules. POWs on Billinudgel banana plantations allowed to roam free.
16Jun44: Murbah RSL membership = 278. Strongest on North Coast. (29May44: Twin Towns RSL = 100)
21Jun44: Murbah RSL. POW Farm Labour Allegedly Displaces Australians.  +Prisoners To War On Weeds. But they want at least 1000 POWs. + soldier settlement blocks.
25Jun44: BGF submission to have 3000 acres set aside for returned soldiers. A man can set up average plantation for £1500 compared to £3000 min for a dairy farm
25/27Jun44: Murbah building stats + house in 1940 worth £1000, now £1500. + 4000 soldiers released for dairying.

1Jul44: 8500 POWs on farms.
4Jul44: 75 cane cutters. Considerably below total required. 50,000 ton Tweed crop estimated. +Editorial: Populate or Perish
6Jul44: Some Farmers May Have More POW Labour Than Needed. Tweed-Brunswick District War Agricultural Committee. Some taking the max of three to use one as a cook. 200 was max district would receive, but boundary adjustments with Lismore could mean an extra 50.
Cases where POW Labour should be withdrawn. DWAC no sympathy with farmers who dismiss other employees because they have been allotted POWs.
151 Releases of 469 recommended. DWAC seeking release of soldiers for farm work.
7Jul44: Tweed RSL wants 1000 POWs. Supported by Tweed Shire Council
14Jul44: More soldiers for dairy industry.
18Jul44: Tweed farmer loses POWs after he sacked Australian workers. 2 other cases. +Murbah RSL membership now 300.
24Jul44: Big decrease in shipment of bananas from Murbah railhead. 10,104 cases Jun44. June 43 = 16,113. + Alidenes/Vassel alleged dummying case.

1Aug44: Expansion of Main Arm. Want extra delegate Bruns council of BGF.
12Aug44: 18 dairy farms Tumbuglum closed since war started
22Aug44: Murbah RSL informed no POWs left.
28Aug44: Murbah RSL – wants Govt to maintain control over transfers of land, property and business post war. Ditto Tweed District Council of RSL Branches.
12Sep44: All crops. 31Mar1943 5,297,313 acres under cultivation in NSW. 31Mar44: 4,798,895 acres. 1938-39: 7,044,038 acres.
21Sep44: Finns as Settlers in Australia. Will make admirable citizens.
22Sep44: Italians in QLD…. It is a lie that 95% of QLD Italians are disloyal. Ingham is 75% Italian and Aust born Italian. More money collected Ingham for war bonds than anywhere in Australia.

5Oct44: Loyalty Test for Italians Urged – Country Party. All Italians that could not show up to a loyalty test after the war should be deported. At the same time ALP talking about encouraging Italian immigrants after the war.
12Oct44: Most Men Released For Dairying Growing Bananas. DWAC meeting. Only small % of men released for dairying were actually dairying. Most in bananas.
16Oct44: Alleged Land Grab by Aliens . Mullum RSL
26Oct44: 26 more internees released + 17 on conditional release. +Lismore RSL protests sick POWs housed in same ward as Aust servicemen.
8Nov44: North Tumbulgum DWAC upset over POWs conducting themselves irregularly by engaging in private talks while they were supposed to be at mass. It was given as an explanation that these men were non-Christians among the prisoners, some of whom were said to be pronounced communists, while others were neo-Christians and Fascists and were spreading pernicious doctrines among their countrymen.
12Nov44: Murbah Show Committee upset that they had to pay £2/10/- retail for case bananas for banana display.
23Nov44: Release of alien internees
27Nov44: Tweed District Council RSL want land set aside for returned soldiers, but concern on over-production. Plus speculators buying up land. Plus keep chain stores out – ruin small business.
30 Nov44: 3/- per hour for banana labourers at Billinudgel and Upper Burringbar.
2Dec44: Migration Editorial.
13Dec44: Mullum RSL. Mr Lindsay said it was a rotten state of affairs when an alien was given preference over an Australian… (Mullum Star report had ‘Greek’ instead of ‘alien’)

1/3Jan45: Migration editorials.
9Jan45: 3 POWs arrested Lismore at home of Italian civilian. In civilian clothes and travelled 4 miles. +POW absconds from Mullum. Walked to Bangalow and caught train but sprung Lismore.
10Jan45: Price oysters fixed. + Mullum supports Kearsley Shire Council to protest British partition of Greece (Kearsley first communist controlled council in Australia)
17Jan45: Murbah RSL now has 461 members.
26Jan45: Walter (aka Basil) Shapowloff, ex Qld internee, Murbah bus company proprietor, breaches award wages. + Mr Gaggin dies Palmwoods + Glen Innes protests British intervention Greece and right of Greeks to chose their own Government. (Shapowloff approved to operate 5 buses Murbah-TH by Twwed Council 2Oct44)
29Jan45: 100% increase in Twin Towns RSL membership. Now 132.
8Feb45: ‘Australia as a melting pot’….. Italians do well everywhere. +Prices Commission reduces wholesale banana prices.
10Feb45: Mullum RSL. Mr Tandy said that he knew of a case where an alien had been given preference over Australians in the matter of securing prisoner-of-war labor to ‘plant up’ bananas.’…. Mr Hollis Neath declared, if, …, our men were to find, on their return, that blood brothers of their late enemies were in possession of the best of the land they had fought and bled to protect…
10Feb45: Prices Commission reduces wholesale banana prices. Mr Armstrong and Mr Anthony no luck in arguing with commissioner. Mr Anthony said he could not attract workers for 5/- an hour for one of his properties.
25Feb45: 2 POWs at Stanthorpe charged for refusing to work.
28Feb45: Review of Use of POW Labour. AWU complaining. Orchardists at Batlow sacking Australians.

9Mar45: High wages to banana labourers causing labour problems for dairy farmers and councils. Industry employing boys for 3/-/hr after they had spent 50hrs on the home dairy farm. POWs going to bananas. (+letters 14/16/17Mar)
13Mar45: Sir Earle Page takes up Coffs growers concerns on price fixing.
19Mar45: Lismore RSL Seeks Removal of all Italians. POWs mainly but also resident Italians.   ….Many Italian children in the district did not know a word of English… The Italians should be sent back to Italy to fight their own battles…. Many district farmers now employing POWs who had never employed Australians.
26/27Mar45: Tweed-Brunswick War Agricultural Committee. Soldiers released for dairying now working bananas.
3Apr45: POW Labour on Farms. Letter to Ed. ….Without doubt, when all our own people are employed after the war we should, when choosing more migrants, look to the nations whose people have pioneered the country, and not seek them from the people of the countries who came in when most of the hard work was done and got the cream of the pioneer’s labour….
18Apr45: Byron Bay ALP Opposes Italian Migration. Record attendance at meeting and moves ….that all enemy aliens and POWS be deported from the country at the earliest convenience.
20Apr45: POW labour now £2 per week.
25Apr45: Aliens Keen to Change Their Names. +Italians released from Civil Alien Corp for cane cutting.
28Apr45: Mullum BGF. Black marketing of bananas.

1May45: Alien Question. Brisbane. Allegations that aliens being given free naturalization?
26May45: White Australia Policy.
29May45: 2 POWs injured Uki in truck accident.
11Jun45: Boom in land sales Coolangatta
11Jul45: Header ‘Best Farms falling into Alien Hands’. Sydney; Tuesday: The steady penetration of aliens into the real estate market was a matter for immediate Government action, Mr H.L. Anthony MHR said today… Dummying taking place…
Meeting of Murbah Communist Party. Sec H. Gillies. P. Bramble representative to annual conference of North Coast and Tablelands district of Party. 45 delegates and 11 branches
12Jul45: Alien Land Purchases. Canberra, Wednesday. All property transactions of aliens, including friendly aliens and allies, were carefully checked…
13Jul45: Civil Alien Corps wound up.
26Jul45: Enemy aliens banned from buying land.

2Aug45: Total Italian population = 13018 and German 1592?? Maybe unnaturalized?
2Aug45: Arthur Caldwell. The Australian people must help people become assimilated. We have been too prone in the past to ostracize those of alien birth…
12Aug45: No POW labour for planting for soldiers. BGF want to plant up on behalf of soldiers still on active service.
15Aug45: Mullum RSL. Mr S. Cornwell raised the question of enemy aliens being allowed to become naturalized, and asked what was the League’s attitude. He was informed that this question would be fully dealt with at the forthcoming State Congress.
18Aug45: Bruns acreage equals Tweed and now has 2 banana inspectors permanently stationed by Dept of Ag.
18Aug45: Lismore RSL. According to information supplied to the RSSAILA by Mr H.L. Anthony MHR 3507 aliens were granted land purchase permits during the past 3 and a half years. For 12mths ended Sep44 this number was 78…. Mr Anthony stressed the seriousness of the position if allowed to continue as it affected Australian servicemen.
20Aug45: Aliens not taking over banana industry said BGF chairman – aliens of enemy origin now have 500 fewer acres. + Mad rush to plant bananas.
27Aug45: 1000 Internees to be returned home. Greatest number at any one time was 6000 of whom 500 were Jap seamen. 4500 of 6000 released at various times to the Civil Alien Corps.
10Sep45: Big decrease in number of rural workers. Despite 30,000 Army releases to rural industry there are 99,586 fewer Australians employed on the land this year than 1939.
18Sep45: Mr Mott of Main Arm donated a 6 acre, 10 year, rent free lease to the RSL for a ballot amongst returned soldiers.
26Sep45: Murbah RSL = 594 members

13Oct45: Blackmarketing. Ald Alick Buckley
23Oct45: Soldier Settlement in Banana industry
29Oct45: Tweed, without the Brunswick, producing £650,000 worth bananas/yr
10Nov45: Murbah BGF. WAC sending men who are ‘hopelessly unfitted for hard work. The POWs on the Tweed District might not average as suitable as Australian-born workers, but it was useless to attempt replacing them with mere ‘misfits’ from the army…. or ‘unemployables’ from the city.
12Nov45: Norco to close 6 butter factories, including Uki and Tyalgum.
15Nov45: Italians would like to stay here. POWs of Tweed and Bruns
16Nov45: Stephens MLA. Men in the banana industry had spoken a few untruths… returned soldiers.
17Nov45: BGF protest statement by Stephens MLA re banana industry and returned soldiers
20Nov45: Stephens MLA clarifies statement. Meant Tweed-Bruns, not simply Tweed, and never meant to say BGF keeping soldiers out of banana industry
26Nov45: Murbah Tick Board dismisses 100 men
6Dec45: Best quality migrants ever likely to be available in any country are waiting in Europe – Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
11Dec45: Letter on over-production. Cane growers digging out cane and planting bananas. Plus Qld banana stats.

 Top of Page

2Jan46: Immigrants must not be forced into isolation.
4Jan46: Ballina RSL. Banana lease prices too high. Italians asking double prewar price.
5Jan46: Blackmarketing Bananas
18Jan46: Harrison, deputy Leader of Fed Opposition, on Italians dominating banana industry.
19Jan46: Lack of work for returned men. Lismore RSL
22Jan46: Dutch take over Rest Area Quarters Greenmount. Built under lend lease and Aust and British did not want it. To house Netherlands East Indies refugees.
6Feb46: Collapse of Brisbane Banana Market. Heatwave and oversupply
7Feb46: Sydney market oversupplied
12Feb46: Ceiling prices removed on vegie growers.
18Feb46: War Service Preference in Employment Act.
23Feb46: BGF accepts apology from Stephens
25Feb46: Banana Case rationing to cease.
28Feb46: An unknown Italian POW, who worked on a Tweed farm while in Australia, will be due credit if a variety of maize….is successful. It was his recommendation…. It was stated that the Italian worked for Mr T. Eilola of Doon Doon.
12Mar46: Mullum RSL. Mr Tandy raised the question of local holdings being purchased by aliens and instanced two cases…
21May46: Mullum RSL = 160
27May46: RSL Move to Restrict Banana Acreage. Tweed District Council concerned about over-production and potential chaos.
1Jul46: ALP Move on Café Hours. Murbah ALP protest about café opening hours.
4Jul46: Stratigos, Vice-Pres of Aust-Greek League, arrives Lismore. Lismore Greek community and RSL compile list of those who served Greece.
22Jul46: Rush by Italians to naturalize Lismore – 20 in last week.
13Aug46: Italian Grip on North Qld Sugar Industry. Address to Murbah Rotary. “Dr Unwin said that there were some fine men among the Italians, particularly those from northern Italy. Those before the war took an interest in civic affairs. The Sicilian type of Italians were not mixers like the northern Italians.
7Sep46: Migration editorial
10Sep46: Nearly 100 people a month, mainly Italians, seeking naturalization.
11Oct46: Anthony Had Greatest Majority of Any Opposition Candidate. Declaration of Richmond Poll in Lismore. Labour candidate Compton says no need for Anthony to have branded him as a communist. (Keith Compton, Shire engineer for Gundurimba, described himself as the first and only Labour alderman ever to be elected to Lismore Council 1941)
23Nov46: Arthur Caldwell introduces new ‘dignified’ naturalization ceremonies
2Dec46: Formation of Tweed-Brunswick District Council of RSL. And move to limit banana acreage.
4Dec46: Formation of Tweed-Brunswick District Council of RSL
11Dec46: State President of RSL opposes entry of Aliens. Lismore.
14Dec46: Butter subsidy. Cost £22,353,000 in last 4yrs.
23Dec46: 3000 Italian POWs leave Sydney. Another 2000 to leave Monday. + Bruns BGF now with 3 directors on Board.

17Feb47: All Richmond-Tweed electorates vote to retain 6 PM closing of pubs
21Feb47: Retailers revolt over price controls of bananas. ‘Forestallers’ at markets driving up prices.
25Feb47: Calwell invites RSL to Canberra to view all migration files to end ‘vicious campaign of mendacity….’
19Mar47: Valuer-General new valuations banana land. Huge increases.
12Apr47: Uki and Tyalgum butter factories given reprieve til 30Jun47.
22Apr47: Banana wholesalers Sydney markets charging above fixed rate
9May47: Murbah retailers petition to abolish lunch hour closing.
19May47: Banana retailers boycott markets.
23/24Jun47: New trading hours. 40hr week starts 1Jul. Industrial Commission approached to reopen over lunch hour.
5Sep47: Bananas reach 9d each in Perth.
26/28Aug47: Valuations and appeals
19Sep47: BGF to become its own agents at Melbourne markets.
27Sep47: Byron shire council roll of electors shows 25% jump in 2yrs.
7Nov47: Norco factories Coraki, Alstonville and Binna Burra to close
11Oct47: Only 6 out of 800 shop employees Lismore turn up meeting to form union.
18Nov47: Banana Prices at Lowest Level for Years.  BGF upset at growers sending poor quality fruit to market.
6Dec47: Deferred payment of increased butter subsidy of just over 4d/lb awarded 1Apr-31Oct means dairy farmers get best return in 20yrs.
9Dec47: Burringbar gets electricity
15Dec47: RSL Plan on Aliens – Speak English or be Deported. Far North Coast Council of Sub-branches meeting Lismore.
30Dec47: Register of Aliens From Tomorrow. Locals to get forms from post office. + Macedonians of Crabbes Creek donate £31/10/- to Murbah hospital.

8Jan48: Sydney markets dump 400 unsold cases
10Jan48: Forecast of most serious banana glut in history.
17Jan48: Byron Shire in Serious Financial Plight. Overdraft at £10,019. Rates increase.
21Jan48: Mullum building boom.
22Jan48: Tweed Shire increases rates on top of big valuation increases. Roads main drain.
23Jan48: Building Boom on Tweed.
3Feb48: Immigrants Sought to Help Cut 1948 Australian Cane Crop. Immigration advisory board to allot 2500 and Northern Rivers hope for 250.
4Feb48: Of the 700 to 800 new settlers from Mediterranean ports who arrived per Napoli, 20 are for this district. Mr G. Contee, farmer of Murbah, will meet his wife Theresa and 3 daughters.  Many other names.
9Feb48: Aust Council of Churches calls for end White Aust policy.
10Feb48: Banana Industry Drifting. Overproduction.
13Feb48, 23Mar48 and 8May48: Hundreds of appeals over valuations.
2Mar48: RSL and communists
3Mar48: Foreigners Ignored. Australians would not accept foreigners because of an inferiority complex said the president of the Lower River sub-branch of the RSL at a Ballina meeting as a protest about the motion to stop immigration of Italian cane cutters.
4Mar48: Tweed-Brunswick District Council RSL. Passed motion to request the Government to refrain from granting assistance to aliens for land settlement… until all returned men fixed up.
11Mar48: Byron Bay RSL protest on Govt proposals to bring Italians to cut cane.
16Mar48: Peter Notas joins Mullum RSL and no more alien stuff.
19Mar48: Tweed Shire Overdraft Near Limit.  + Balt Cane Cutters about to arrive.
20Mar48: Murbah RSL steps up pursuit of communists. + BGF Chairman Armstrong censures Secretary Buckley.
1May48: President Buckley of Tweed Shire holds talks on council’s financial problems ‘in camera.’ + Bruns BGF unanimous on quota system
4May48: Death of John Cedric Price, managing editor of Tweed Daily. Foundation pres of Rotary
20May48: Young Greek Immigrants at Murwillumbah. Cassimatis rellies arrive from Kythera.
24Jul48: 47 Balts arrive Murbah for cane cutting
26Jul48: PPU Divided on ‘Aliens’ Resolution. Property rights.
4Aug48: BGF quota system. + Greek Communities of Tweed and Brunswick in UN Appeal for Children.
5Aug48: Full employment. Waitresses at a premium Murbah cafes.
6Aug48: Present immigration programme for Italians 4000/yr. + BGF allege racketeering Sydney markets. + British Migrants at Mur-bah.
27Aug48: Intimidation of Tenants by Foreigners, Declares Minister.
31Aug48: Aliens Must Adopt Our Way of Life. Australian Natives Assoc.
2Oct48: Greek Discharged on Cattle Poisoning Count.
7Oct48: zero unemployment Murbah.
8Oct48: Self-Styled ‘Greeks’ Hope for Leniency. Italians, Yugosloavs, Bulgarians, Rumanians and Macedonians.
15Oct48: Tweed Agricultural income. Dairying still largest income generator, but bananas gaining ground.
25Oct48: Yugoslav agents enticing immigrants to return.
2Nov48: First Italian vessel since war with immigrants 

Mullumbimby Star

5Jan37: Crannery Bros buy 92 acres from J.R.H. Gaggin at Palmwoods and join other Tweed growers, Bishop, Moore, McDonald, Alidenes and Serone, in rapid expansion of Brunswick banana industry
16Jul40: Bruns BGF. Mr Tandy in referring to enemy aliens in the industry said that many were not of a desirable class…. And moved that this council ask the co-operation of Mr Anthony MHR and Mr Mair, Premier, in having all enemy aliens interned, their property confiscated, and kept in such a way that no obligation be imposed on Australia’s war effort. … In supporting the motion Mr McDonald referred to the labour shortage in the banana industry and said that, as many alien shopkeepers had been forced to close their premises, he had no doubt that numbers would join their countrymen in the banana and sugar industries.  
9Aug40: Enemy Aliens. Bruxner’s speech on internment

21/24/28/31Jan41, 4/14/18/21/25/28Feb41, 4/7/11/14/18Mar41: Greek War Relief Fund
25Mar41: Bruns BGF. Mr F. Overall of Cudgera branch moved that all aliens, naturalized or otherwise, be prohibited from increasing the acreage of their present areas of banana plantations for the duration of the war and six months after, or failing that, the government be asked to deduct 20 per cent of their gross income to help Australia’s war effort. If their plantations were kept down it would be an easier task for us to get reasonable prices and maintain our labour… And to ask the Government to supply us with enemy aliens to work for us while our men are in camp….  When things get back to normal, said Mr F.R. Tandy (of the Mullum branch), the best part of the banana industry will be controlled by aliens…
8Apr41: Fracas in Local café. Caponas and Psaltis assaulted by Fraser and Delaney
15Apr41: Australians in Greece.
22Apr41: Main Arm meeting. Joe Vlismas on committee to support Stuart against Budd. Messrs Lindsay and Rollo protest.
25Apr41: Joe Vlismas assaulted by Reid. + Vlismas letter ‘Aliens and the Banana Industry’
29Apr41: Mr Budd MLA replies to Main Arm criticism and Coburn and Lindsay on committee to have him re-elected. + Salaries of Town Clerk and Engineer reduced.
3Jun41: BGF board meeting Coffs. Bruns reps report dummying by aliens and Richmond reps on plantings by enemy aliens.
13Jun41: Mullum RSL. Motion for interning. Mr Tandy for, Mr Gibson against.
17Jun41: Bruns BGF. Mullum branch want interning.
5Aug41: McCallum letter rejecting interning.
2Sep41: Bruns BGF. Mr Tandy said the Government was not waking up to the fact that we have the enemy amongst us and cited a case… + Finns and declaring products of unnaturalized enemy aliens ‘black’
26Sep41: Palmwoods the cream of the banana production country. + Mr Tandy at State conference of RSL.
7Oct41: Aussie Tributes to the Greeks. Local soldiers’ letters. Whitest (sic) people he ever met said Pte Keegan.
17Oct41: Mullum branch of Bruns BGF. The meeting looked with some anxiety at the increase of Greeks in the industry…
21Nov41: Main Arm protest meeting over rejection of Mott as candidate Shire council.

25Feb43: Mott forms Mullum ALP branch. Mr J.T. Condon secretary. Dodd endorsed as candidate for forthcoming State elections
27Jul44: Alidenes accused of dummying. Velo Vassell in partnership with Mrs Alidenes. Constable Taylor, pres of RSL, police prosecutor.
19Oct44: Mullum RSL. Mr Hollis Neath said that it was a peculiar thing that while aliens, whether enemy or otherwise, … acquiring land. + Chaiman BGF admonishes growers for poaching labour from BGF’s bunchy top teams
23Nov44: Mullum donates wool for Greece.
14Dec44: Mullum RSL.  Mr Lindsay said it was a rotten state of affairs when a Greek or any other alien… gets preference over an Australian for POW labour.
8Feb45: Mullum RSL. Mr Tandy said he knew of a case where an alien…. Mr Hollis Neath declared that aliens… + Miss Nelson’s café acquired by Mrs Shearman

Other References

The Way it Was, by Mary Lee Connery (editor), published 1988 Uki and South Arm Historical Society, Page 76:
Mrs Vittoria Martinelli said …They wouldn’t let us plant bananas because we were enemy aliens, so we put bananas in anyway. ….

Minutes of the Australian Agricultural Council meeting 27/28Jun1941- Page 28 of the Federal Govt File 'Acquisition of land by aliens - Protests, banana plantations, New South Wales and Queensland Towns - Lower Cudgera via Murwillumbah NSW'  (National Archives Document: Barcode 100714, Series No A472, Series Accession No A472/6, Control Symbol W4542/4.):

Upon being asked How do you differentiate between aliens who came here….? Mr Anthony replied There is no differentiation. An enemy alien who came here 60 years ago is still an enemy alien. If he was not born in Australia and wants to acquire property he is regarded as an enemy alien, and must first get the authority of the Attorney-General's Department. Before that authority is given, his record is scrutinized and inquiry made as to his investments in war loans, &c. Difficulties are not placed in his way if he has proved to be a good citizen. Each case is considered on its merits. The proposal now is that we should go further, and prevent aliens from expanding their holdings by taking advantage of the fact that native-born Australians are enlisting.

Internment:
National Archives Document, Barcode 376046, Series No MP508/1, Control Symbol 115/703/553, Date 1942, 132 pages - Internment of Enemy Aliens (Box175)
NA Doc 65344, A373/1, 1272, (1942), 357 pages - Internment of Aliens - Representations by organisations and communities.

On 10Mar42 the Murbah Municipal Council wrote to all Municipalities in NSW thus:
At the last meeting of my Council held on Wednesday, February 4th, a request from the Murwillumbah Sub-branch of the R.S.S. & A.I.L.A. was considered. The request was that the Council lend its support to a move that is being made to demand that the Government's scheme to register all enemy aliens be abolished and that all enemy aliens be interned immediately and also that the international procedure of employing interned enemy aliens on works of national use and importance be adopted.
My Council was unanimous in deciding that action should be taken along the lines suggested and the Mayor has already sent a telegram to the Minister fro the Army conveying a motion, on the lines set out above, which was passed at a public meeting held last week.
It was further decided to circularise all Municipal Council's (sic) in the State to urge that they give their co-operation in this matter by taking action along the lines suggested and by organizing meetings of public, semi-public and patriotic bodies in their districts to give the movement their whole-hearted support and to ask their Federal Representatives to also support any action that may be taken.
The resolution suggested is as follows:-
"That this council urges that the Federal Government's Scheme to register all aliens between the ages of 16 and 60 be cancelled and that all enemy aliens be interned immediately and put to work of national use and importance."
signed... Town Clerk

On 13Mar42 the Tweed Shire Council wrote to all shires within the State thus:
The co-operation of your Council is sought in making a demand to the Federal Government for the internment of all enemy aliens in Australia and they be employed on works of national importance. If your Council concurs, it is asked that you solicit the support of your Federal Member.
signed... Acting Shire Clerk.

Many of the Municipalities and Shires in NSW supported the resolution and wrote to their respective MHRs. The Coolangatta Town Council also wrote to Mr Anthony MHR, as well as their local MHR (16Mar).
All Richmond-Tweed LGAs supported the resolution (although there are no letters from Ballina Municipality or Byron Shire in the above files); the Tintenbar Shire  wrote to Mr Anthony 10Feb, Lismore Municipality 11Feb, Mullum Municipality 17Feb, Tomki Shire 27Feb, Terania Shire 30Mar, Gundurimba Shire 13Apr, Casino Municipality 21Apr, Woodburn Shire 28Apr.
The files contain separate requests for internment from the Alstonville Division of the Red Cross (14Feb), Lismore RSL (16Feb), Women's Voluntary Service Lismore (19Feb), Gundurimba Patriotic and War Fund (19Feb), Murbah High School P&C (4Mar), Tweed Cane Growers Association (7Mar), Tweed District branch of the PPU (10Mar), Bonalbo RSL (16Mar), Cudgera-Reserve Creek Public School War Auxiliary (16Mar), (Reserve Creek P&C sent separate telegram), Condong Citizens Association (21Mar), Womens Voluntary Service Clunes (23Mar), Mullum RSL (24Mar), Nimbin RSL (24Mar), Dunbible P&C Association (2Apr), Eureka Branch of the CWA (14Apr)

Most of the LGA letters dated pre Murbah/Tweed initiative were in response to a differently worded resolution from the Moree Municipal Council, eg Mullumbimby 17Feb42:
Dear Mr Anthony,
re Internment of Enemy Aliens.
I write to advise that my Council has decided to co-operate with the Moree Municipal Council in representations to the Federal Authorities requesting the immediate internment of all enemy aliens.
I feel sure there is no need to bring before you the many varied reasons why this should be done for the safety of our Nation and trust that you will use your best endeavours to have this immediately effected.
signed... Town Clerk.
(Moree later endorsed the Murbah resolution.)

[At Nimbin, home to most Italians in the region, the local RSL branch told Mr Anthony '... It was viewed with alarm to see so many enemy aliens roaming the district at large. It is a common occurrence to see those same enemy aliens congregating in the streets conversing in their own language, and we think it is high time this condition of affairs should be rectified. Thanking you in anticipation...' and accompanied by an internment 'petition signed by a large number of residents of our district' (111 names)]