FORBIDDEN TO LAND.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 465, 25 March 1909, Page 4

FORBIDDEN TO LAND.

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. Tho Hon. A. W. Hogg, Minister for Cnsu toms, made a statement to a Dominion reporter yesterday concerning the man Baldwin, who was suffering from paralysis, and was refused permission to land from tho Fifcsliiro at Lylteltou, and who afterwards took the law- into his own hands and wont ashore with his luggage. Tho Minister said: "It is true, I am informed, that Baldwin was a resident of New Zealand from 187-1 to 11)06. Tho Hacknoy Board of Guardians (Lcndon) wrote 10 the High Comm'ssieiier two years ago, stating that tho man was chargeable to them, that ho came back -to England in 1906, in a delicate sta'lo of health, and leaving a wife and children in tho South Island, to which place ho desired to return. Ho could not travel alone, as ho was suffering from locomotor ataxy, and ho had no means. Tho Guardians asked if it were possible to get him emigrated. "Tho High Commissioner reported to tho New Zealand authorities, and they communicated with Baldwin's family. His younger daughter told tho Commissioner of Customs at invercargill, as a message from her mother, that his son absolutely declined to assist Baldwin. Afterwards, Mrs. Baldwin was seen, and s'ho statotd that the family could not support her husband, and if ho canio out ho would • probably havo to go to the Old Men's Home. He had five brothers at Homo, and sho was surprised that they had not helped him. He had been an invalid for seven years, and it had been very difficult to support him. The Government, therefore, did not sco its way to givo any assistance and replied accordingly to tho High Commissioner, alluding to the brothers in England, and adding that if Baldwin camo out ho would probably become a burden on tho community.

"Nevertheless, Baldwin eamo out ' Inst month on tho Fifcshire. ' Tlio Secretary for Customs at Invereargill reported that tho family had left that district, and tlmfc tho only relative, that eould bo found was a 'married daughter, who did not seem to care to have anything to do ivith her father. I learn that tho son-in-law is a working man without any means. Tinder the circumstances it was impossible for us to let tho man land, unless tho shipping company would givo the bond required under the Immigration Restriction Act."