AHARD EXEPRIENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 1 August 1924, Page 3

AHARD EXEPRIENCE

To brinp hi> wile and three children 13.Hi11) miles under the promise ol work and a house, and then Io lind that there was neither house nor work, was lliw experience of an immiprant who arrived in New Zealand within the last feu months. On Tuesday he

went to a trades union secretary in i-earrh of some form of liplit work and his story, which is a striking indict-

ment of the laxity of the immiproliou officials in the selection ot disease-tree immigrants in London. was told as follows: A relative wrote to him in Knpland lellinp him that if he came to New Zealand, he would lind him work and a house at his farm in the vicinity of Christchurch. The man was a discharged soldier, with three years' service to Ilis credit. The relative nominated the man. and under the me minaied immiprants scheme, the man. his wife and three children came to New Zealand. When he arrived he was told that there was neither a house nor a job lor him. lie returned to Christchurch and obtained work at his trade as a motor-car painter. Only a few months passed hetore he had contracted lead poisoninp, and was sent to the hospital, lie has now been discharged from the institution, but he has a medical certificate which stales that he can never resume his occupation as a painter, and can only take liplit work. While in hospital. I'e received compensation to t lie cx--1,.|,i ot .Vs p-■ r cent ol Ilis napes. 11l the meantime, Ills wile tell ill and she was sent to the sanatorium. There beinp no one to look alter the children. two were sent to an orphanape tit Timani and the other to a ( lirisichinch inst it ut ion.