IMMIGRATION AGENTS AND SUE, GEONS OF EMIGRANT SHIPS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1892, 29 August 1874, Page 3

IMMIGRATION AGENTS AND SUE, GEONS OF EMIGRANT SHIPS.

[to the editor.] Sir — From time to time in the different journals of the Colony have appeared a series of articles on the mis-management in the .Immigration Department, in which the lax system at present in vogue has been very justly and generally condemned. No one can entertain any doubt that the appointment of Mrs Howard, who was foisted on the General Government by means of a strong recommendation, on which appeared the names of most of the leading men of Dunedin, from the Superintendent downwards, has done more damage to the immigration scheme in the eyes of people at home than can be readily repaired. Many respectable people who would be willing to emigrate and become most desirable and useful colonists will very wisely pause when they see the scum of the workhouses and reformatories grasped at so eagerly ; in fact the Chairmen of Boards of Guardians were threatened with legal proceedings if the number bargained for were not forthcoming. Happily, however, Mr Yogel has taken the work of the Immigration Department into his own hands, and has promptly dismissed this lady, who, perhaps innocently, has done so much harm.

Another item in connection with immigration which has excited the alarm nf the Press of the Colony is the excessive mortality on board immigrant ships. This has very generally been attributed to over-crowding, insufficient accommodation, and bad ventilation. While, no doubt, a great deal of the mortality may be attributed to these causes, the question naturally arises, may not these very large number of deaths be to some degree accelerated by the incompetence and neglect of some of the "experienced surgeons," as they are termed in the London daily papers. The London "Lancet" evidently does not entertain a very high opinion of the " young gentlemen," for it says that the term "experienced" in connection with a ship doctor is generally regarded as a " misnomer, a delusion, and a snare." It also states that a ship's doctor is considered in the ruck of his profession, whose capacities lay more in the direction of brandy and water than in the healing of the sick ; and that such is or ought to be the responsibility cf a surgeon in charge of an emigrant ship, carrying from 500 to 600 persons, that for the time being it is of a far more important and responsible character than that of a medical officer in charge of a regiment or a Queen's ship. The " Lancet" concludes by saying — "Undoubted evidence exists that there are now many experienced surgeons afloat whose names cannot be found either in the ' Medical Register,' or in the books of any examining body in the United Kingdom." Such a statement as this, and from such an authority, is of such grave importance, that it is imperative some amendment should be made in this direction. It is quite certain that many personß who make up their minds to brave the perils of the sea, will not care to encounter the danger of being prescribed for by a careless or incompetent doctor. I am, &c, An Old Colonist.