The 1916 Maltese emigrants' incident : the story behind the Gozo Philatelic Society and the Philatelic Society of Canberra Inc. : joint first centenary anniversary commemoration

Abstract

The protagonists of the episode, who later became referred to as the "Billy Hughes Children", became embroiled in Australia's racial, political and moral turbulence through the application of the 'dictation test' - Australia's principal method of excluding unwanted migrants during the first decades of the twentieth century. The Maltese, including a disproportionate number from the Gozitan hamlet of Santa Lucija, had boarded the French Messageries Maritimes mail-boat "Gange" in Malta bound for Australia, scheduled to arrive in Melbourne (en route to Sydney) on 28th October - the day of a referendum to impose conscription in Australia. [excerpt]