why does the mufti not speak english?, page-2

I agree Slats, people should be taught to speak English before they are allowed to live here. I think Sir Edmund had it mostly right way back in 1907, although I don't agree that English should be the only language spoken.

Sir Edmund Barton's ideas on Immigrants and being an Australian in 1907.


"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an Australian and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin.

But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an Australian, and nothing but an Australian... There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an Australian, but something else also, isn't an Australian at all. We have room for but one flag, the Australian flag.... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the Australian people."

Edmund Barton
1907