ASSISTED MIGRANTS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1927, Page 4

ASSISTED MIGRANTS

REPLY TO COMPLAINTS. WELLINGTON. Sept. 24. “During tbe whole time that the G .vernmont has been granting assisted passages to immigrants we have received only two complaints as to the accommodation provided, and of those one v.as from a woman who had boon granted an assisted passage, while neither complaint was valid." said the Director of Immigration (Mr H. D. Thomson) to-day in comment upon the statement of Airs Sutherland Ross, in Dunedin, that the cabin, aeeommodation provided for women and girl immigrants was disgraceful. “Since 1i)l-l wo have bad a special arrangement with the shipping companies whereby the women travel with a matron in a c impound, which consists of twelve four-berth cabins and one two-berth cabin, and which is absolutely separate from tbe rest of the ship. The accommodation is iPapeete I by an officer of tbe Department belli at Hie English end and on arrival in the Dominion, and T think that it is safe to say that if there bad been any cause for complaint wo should have heard of it from our matrons and that it would have been removed. We have always found the shipping companies

anxious to give us every assistance. There arc some inside cabins without a great deal of ventilation. I know, but then it must be remembered t“at all the ships which are now bringing passengers to New Zealand are governed by the Board of Trade regulations and passed by the Board of Trade. As to the food we have never bad any i-ause to complain.” T! e Tainui and Reinuera had been named by Mrs Ross as shies which she had inspected. Mr E. V. IL-vaii, as-sitant-manager of the .Shaw, Kavill and Albion Co. said that though the noeomip iilalion on the Tainui is not equal i that of the later shins Alatar-oa and iTamaroa. which posses 1 ; s me of 1 lie* most modern accommodation in 1':? Australian and N'-w /calami service, the Tai’ ui has always been regarded as a err. -It shin, and there her r or Icon any trouble about bar accommodation. Air C. Al. Tnrreli. AVellington mniiug'r of tbe New Zealand Shipping Company, said : “The j, - !i ird-elass oe- '• -ru.iodati-in of the Be’uuera is of as high a standard as any lliird-class nec'.mnmda! inn alloat. Air ; Rees can scarcely have bad a v. id" enough experience to iiub’e it if she condemns it as sin- docs.”