IMMIGRATION MANAGEMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 2963, 17 August 1872, Page 2

IMMIGRATION MANAGEMENT.

The new immigration barracks in Christ* church were opened a few days ago, and as the arrangements for the reception, lodgment, and hiring of immigrants that pre vail there are likely to be adopted here and at all other places to which General Government immigrants are t • be introduced, we reprint, as likely to be interesting, the following extracts from an article that appears in the Lyttelton Times: — A very good plan is resorted to in order that the immigrants may know the current rate of wages in the province. Experience has shown this to be a very necessary provision, as immigrants, led away by false information, have not infrequently been known to demand absurdly exorbitant rates, and in familiar parlance to “stick out” for them until their expulsion from the Barracks has been rendered oi ligatory. On the afternoon prior to the day on which employers are admitted the Barracks, printed forms are

posted up in every compartment, indicating the current r-ites ef wages for all kinds of labour, skilled and unskilled, so that the immigrants know exactly what to ask and what to accept. All engagements are made in writing by employer and servant, and witnessed by the Immigration Officer. These engagements are made so that it will be optional with the immigrant to change his situation after the expiration of one mouth’s notice to that effect; a similar notice is requited on the part of the’emp'oyer. This condition is manifestly fair to both parties, because if an immigrant is dissadslied with his place, or if he does not suit his employer, the former will in any event have a mouth’s time to look about him for some other situation more congenial to his feelings, io like manner an employer can rid of an unsuitable servant by forfeiting a month’s wages or by giving the required notice. A record (in fact, the original agreement) is kept of the immigrant’s name and that of the person who engaged him or her as the case may be, so that inquiring friends can readily ascertain their whereabouts. Applications for married couples, single men, and single women are. received at the Immigration Office for some weeks prior to the arrival of an immigrant ship, and employers arc allowed to select on the engagement day according to priority of application. The Barrackmaster points out to persons applying for married couples or s : ngle men those whom he has ascertained to be suitable for the respective situations, and the matron assists in like manner so far as the engaging of female servants is concerned. Any immigrant who refuses a reasonable offer is required to leave the Barracks at once, and the fact of such refusal is reported immediately to the Immigration Officer, and by him to the Government, Immigrants who have accepted service are required to leave the Barracks without delay, and are not re-admitted.

Haring now described the modus opemndi observed in the engaging of immigrants on the third clear day after their arrival at Addington, we shall now proceed to refer briefly to the discipline that is enforced during their location there. Immediately on the immigrants reaching the Barracks, the following code of rules is put into operation ; —l. Accommodation in the Barracks is afforded to immigrants newly arrived for one week after landing, and no longer, without special permission from the Immigration Officer. 2. No person is allowed to enter the Barracks except by an order from the Immigration Officer, •). All immigrants accommodated in the Barracks must be in their rooms by nine o’clock p.m,, and must rise at six o’clock from the Ist September to the 31st March inclusive, and at 7 a,m., from the Ist April to the 31st August. The berths and floors must he swept and cleaned out before eight o’clock a.m. 4, Immigrants will be expected to air their bedding daily, and observe strict cleanliness at all times, 5. All slops must be carried to the places appointed for that purpose 6. No immigrant must write "upon, or in any way damage, any of the buildings. 7. No tire or light shall be kept burning in any room in the Barracks after 9 p.m., except under the direction of the Immigration Officer. 8. No smoking will be allowed at any lime in any of the rooms of the Barracks. 9. No immigrant will be allowed to remain in the barracks after obtaining employment, except with the permission of the Immigration Officer. 10. Any immigrant leaving the Barracks before being engaged, unless authorised by the Immigration Officer, will not be re-admitted. 11. Any person who shall use obscene language, become intoxicated, or violate any of the above rules, will be immediately expelled from the Barr racks. 12. The Immigration Officer may require adult immigrants to do four hours’ work daily during their stay in the Barracks. Some years ago a greater latitude was allowed to immigrants after their arrival at the Barracks than is now the case. They were permitted, for example, to make daily visits to Christchurch, but this freedom was oftentimes abused to such a degree that the authorities resolved on putting an end to the practice. At the present time any immigrant leaving the Barracks before being engaged unless authorised by the Immigration Officer, will not be re admitted—a condition which, for the sake of the immigrants themselves, cannot be too stringently enforced. Those who come under the designation of nominated immigrants” are persons whose friends in the Colony have sent for them through the Government, and these people are allowed to leave the Barracks immqdia? tely upon their friends calling for them. In the case of others who have not been nom nated, but whose friends become aware of their arrival, it is necessary to obtain an order from the Immigration Officer before the Barrack Master will permit them to leave the premises. While in Barracks, the single men and single women are on no account allowed to mix with each other, both departments being completely isolated. A policeman is in constant attendance to see that none of the rules of the establishment are infringed, and his services are not dispensed with until such time as the Barrack Master may deem his further attendance unnecessary. Imm -.diately after the immigrants by any vessel have reached the Barracks, notice is given to the medical attendant {Dr Coward), who at once proceeds there to make the necessary inspection, and pays daily visits in order to ascertain whether there are any cases requiring his attention. Two clear days are given to the immigrants to wash and mend their clothes preparatory to their accepting the various situations which are offered tq them whenever the barracks are thrown apex* to employers, and those who decline tq accept the current rafe of wages (but these are comparatively few ip number) are informed that they can he no longer accommodated at Government expense This is a very salutary psovision, because it prevents those who are inclined to idleness from indulging their “ loafing” propensities at the country’s cost. Rations upon a liberal scale are issued daily by the Barrack Master from a store on the premises, to which the various contractors forward the commodities enumerated in their contracts. For each adult, the ration consists of one pound of bread, one pound of meat, one pound of potatoes, two ounces of sugar, a quarter ounce of tea, salt, water, &c. j and medical comforts are distributed to all who stand in need of them.