I think you may be quoting from this,
http://eprints.utas.edu.au/4286/1/4286.pdf

The paper does not say that Australia took advantage of these migrants. Australia offered work for those who wanted to come. It didn't discriminate against them. That was the deal and the work available.

When infrastructure and business were more developed other work would become available. But that would have been a way off and no promises were made.

Swamped by need and driven by necessity: get the basics up and running. Enormous readjustment from a war economy.

It bears repeating that industry was primitive post-WW2 and what existed had been firmly oriented towards war production. Much industry had been wiped out because Australia's war commitment was mainly farm produce.

Going by the difficulty recovering from modern day natural disasters it is easy to understand the pressures and limitations back then.

Australia's record in resettling displaced people and migrants post WW2 should be lauded as a magnificent gesture and feat.

Hi there HASBEEN...

I'm sorry ol' man but I'll have to ask, that you don't speak of those things that remind me of those fantistic times past, you're starting to make me feel so very melancholic and reflective.

You speak of the old Intermediate Certificate, which was in those days, the academic doorway to so many trades and careers. I completed mine in 1957, and went on to do the 'Leaving'. Why, I haven't the foggist, probably at the behest of my Mum ? It was the Army for me, and they did indicate a good pass in the 'Leaving Certificate' may, I said 'may' grant me a spot in Duntroon. Naturally, I never saw the inside of Duntroon !

You would suggest that you'd need more than an eiderdown to live in Bathurst, most times of the year ? A marvellous town, but oh so cold in winter. In my memory, there was only one place colder (I reckon you'd know it too) Blayney NSW close by to Bathurst, and so so cold in winter ! My old mate BELLY would recall much of what you've shared with us too, I reckon, he's been around quite a bit I believe.

Speaking of 'a Legacy to pass on to our young'...? HASBEEN, are we not doing that now ? As BELLY said earlier it's all about 'mateship', and isn't that the 'glue' that binds our culture together ?

I reckon, all those years ago, when you and your Dad were working on your new house in BATHUST, and living temporally in your modest Hut. If someone turned up on a bitterly cold night, you would always provide them with a cup of tea and a biscuit ? That's 'mateship' I believe. Am I wrong ? I hope not.

Sure people and circumstances change over time, sometimes for the best, occasionally not for the public good. Though, I still believe, most people when hard pressed, are inherently good, when it comes right down to it. I certainly hope so ?

Many comments here about the more difficult times people had not so long ago.
I think a major source of so many poor policy decisions now is the good times most politicians and bureaucrats grew up in.

They presume this post-WWII peaceful, prosperous society is the norm, rather than an historical anomaly.

Since it's the "norm", we don't need to be careful or tentative.
We can throw open the doors to unrestrained global trade and migration, since it will always be good times for everyone.

Not sure what we can do about that.
The indulgent pampered baby mindset is fixed.

Yes Blayney was cold, we played football against them & Millthorpe.

o sung, now I'll really make you jealous.

We moved to Young in 54, where I joined the school cadets. In a small school, with less than 30 boys in 4Th & 5Th years combined, I was made a cadet under officer while in 3Rd year, one of the youngest ever.

In 57, when I did the leaving, I was one of 25 school cadets invited to spend a week at Duntroon during the may school holidays. We were all offered places the next year, provided we had reasonable passes in the leaving certificate.

I got the pass OK, but mum kicked up such a stink, dad would not sign the papers for me to go. Instead I started an engineering scholarship with General Motors. I found living in a boarding house & going to uni, on 6 pounds 10 shillings a week pretty tough.

A year later mum relented, but I joined the navy as a trainee pilot, instead of going to Duntroon. I can't imagine why she thought that was safer than the army. I would like to thank any Ozzies who were paying taxes in the late 50s for spending 11 pounds 8 shillings a day on teaching me to fly.

So mate, while you were slogging it out on the ground, I was cruising around, rather cold, but in considerably greater comfort, above you.

You, Belly, Lexi & I have had the best Oz has had to offer any generation. It would be really nice to think our grand kids could have it any where near as good. When I watch my kids struggling to gain a bit of equity in the country, I am thankful that I can help a little, & should have something to leave them.

Dear Hasbeen,

We all have our stories that need to be passed onto
our children and grandchildren. My intention in
telling the story of my parents and their generation
in this country was simply to explain the times they
lived in and the contribution that they and their community
made in strengthening this country. Most of them have
become Australian citizens, and have proven to be loyal
members of the Australian society. They've fought with
the Australian forces in Korea and Vietnam. Several
Lithuanians have risen to important ranks in the
Australian armed forces. One is a Commander in the
Royal Australian Navy Reserve. Lithuanian sportspeople
have represented Australia at the Olympic Games and in other
important events. Many have since been honored with
Australian and British decorations and most have shown
a great love and attachment to their newfound home.

Anyway, I shan't go on listing their contributions - of
artists, writers, teachers, ballet dancers, musicians,
actors, et cetera. My parents and their kinfolk were a
self-sufficient migrant group. And their legacy passed down
to me was one of "give not take." That is what I have been
trying to instill in my children and one they need to pass onto
theirs.

Dear onthebeach,

One could try and argue that the indentured contract scheme
was equally beneficial to Australia and to the Lithuanian migrants.
One could say, for example, that Australia benefited because
the migrants solved its acute labour shortage in key areas,
while the migrants benefited, too, by being assured of jobs and
having an opprtunity to settle in a new country.

This argument is difficult to sustain. Australia was the last
country to enter the International Refugee Organisation's
resettlement scheme, and political rhetoric aside, "economic
expedience was by far the stronger motivation." The Australian
government contributed only ten pounds ($20) towards each
migrant's fare. The rest of the passage was paid by various
non-Australian welfare agencies.

cont'd ...

Dear onthebeach and Hasbeen,

Just to again set the records straight...

On arrival in Australia, all Baltic migrants were
classified in only two occupations: "labourers", which
denoted all males, and "domestics," which meant all
females. Although the Asutralian employment officials
had full details of each immigrant's skills and
qualifications, no effort was made to match these with
the jobs offering. The Australian authorities enforced
labour contracts strictly.

The first prosecution conducted in Adelaide in June 1949
occurred when a migrant failed to fulfil his indenture
contract. The migrant was sentenced to six months' goal
and was deported after failing the dictation test.
The cruel catch was that a dictation test of 50 words or
more could be given in any language - usually a language
that the accused was unlikely to speak or write.

This incredible "test" was introduced in 1901 and existed in
Australia for more than half a century.

The early conditions of migrant settlement were inadequate.
There was no family accommodation in many places to which
contract workers were sent. Men had to live in tents or tin
huts, in most primitive conditions. Their wives and
children remained in holding camps such as Northam, WA and
Woodside, SA, for long periods and often a long distance
away from their husbands' and fathers' work places.
Marriages suffered, and the psychological scars of forced
separations remained for life.

All this information is on historical record and is available
from any State Library.