A DESTITUTE FAMILY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19144, 29 October 1927, Page 16

A DESTITUTE FAMILY.

* PROBLEM FOR IMMIGRATION . DEPARTMENT. (PEESS ABSOCIATIOX TZMSOBAM.) WELLINGTON, October 28. When the members of the Social Welfare Committee of the Wellington Hospital Board said good-bye to an English family over two years ago, after paying half its return boat fare to England, they thought they had seen the last of the unsuccessful settlers. A week ago, however, the same family again approached the committee for charitable aid, the husband ber-ng at present a patient in Wellington Hospital. "Just what we are going to do with them wo don't know," said Mr G. Petherick, who reported tho matter to the Hospital Board yesterday. A member: Did the Government bring them back again? Mr Petherick: 1 understand they paid their own fare. A voice: There must be something very attractive about New Zealand. •

Mr McCurdy: These people came out here as a separate family. They stayed for a while in Wellington and then moved out into the country. When the committee offered to assist them to return to England they refused to go unless they all went. Mr Bennett: I understand they came in for a windfall on their return to England. With part of the money they paid their way out here again. Only this week they came to us for charitable aid.

Mr McCurdy: How they got through the Immigration Department, I don't know.

The chairman (Sir John Luke) : Did you ask the Department for an explanation ?

A member: Yes, and they gave us their usual shuffling reply. Mr Bennett: We did" not give them any assistance the second time. The Rev. J. Lochore: I think th* Government is answerable in this c^ise. The Rev H. van Staveren: No, it is net It did not bring them out. Tt was decided to write to the Immigration Department in connexion' With the .matter. ...