IMPORTING DISEASE

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1643, 9 January 1906, Page 2

IMPORTING DISEASE

CONSUMPTIVE IMMIGRANT GIVEN ASSISTED PASSAGE. (Per Press Association.) Christchurch, last night. The case of the unfortunate lad Alfred Shenton, who arrived in tho colony in an advanced stage of consumption by the Morayshire a few weeks ago, ba3 become ruoro involved. According to the youth’s own statement, it appears that ho was an assisted passenger to New Zealand. Enquiries made go to show that the lad’s parents, who are in poor circumslauoes, made applica'ion through tho High Commissioner’s office in London to have their son sent to New Zealand at tho cheap steamer rates provided for immigrants on the form which intending immigrants aro I required to fill in, and a certificate was duly forwarded to Shenton, who obtained from Dr Hughes, of Manchester Hospital for Consumption, a certificate that he was then a suitable person to undergo the voyage to Now Zealand. On production of tho certificato tho lad was granted an assisted passage, and a few weeks afterwards he landed in New Zealand in a dying condition. Ho is still an inmate of I Nurse Maude’s consumptive camp at Brighton, and is making little recovery. I natiog no claim on local charity, his maintenance has been personally guaranteed by a gentleman in order that he may receive propur troatment. Tho Bgecta for the Shire lino affirm that the captain of the Btcimer duly examined the steerage quarters, and during tho whole voyage no complaint was made to him by Shenton as to illness. There was no suspicion of consumption, or a tendency tbe-eio, on board the steamer. To-day the District Health Officer, Dr Finch, states that tho matter of payment ot the lad’s oxpensos at Nurs3 Maudya camp is ucdsr consider ation by tbo Customs and Hetlth authorities at Wellington.