STRONG PROTEST

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10292, 29 May 1919, Page 2

STRONG PROTEST

HELD UP IN SYDNEY

INDIGNATION MEETING OF NEW ZEALANDERS.

Writing to the “New Zealand Times” from gjydney. um j er date May 21st, Mr A. G. Ballinger sends the following report :—, '

A largely attended meeting of stranded New Zealanders was presided over on Saturday morning (May 17th) by Mr E. A. Batt, who in the course of a strongly worded address, stated that from information received it was apparent to ell that the real reason < of the embargo placed upon passengers returning to New Zealand, was not the extent of the influenza in Australia, but the inadequate quarantine accommodation at the various stations in New Zealand.

This statement was supported by a letter received by Mr Ballinger, from his father In Wellington. The letter vas signed by the Chief Health Officer, Vfio stated, inter alia: —“Further, in view of the shortage of accommodation at quarantine stations, any steamers bringing. passengers from Australia will be at once placed in quarantine, if infectious cases are discovered on board on arrival.”

Further than this, there appeared in the Sydney papers this week a cable from Wellington, sent by the Hon. Mr Russell, which stated that the embargo could not be removed until the conaitions at the quarantine stations me such as to enable a full ship’s company to be handled.

At the request of the chairman, Mr H. J. Blow, the New Zealand Government Agent in Sydney, addressed the meeting, stating that he had sent the following cablegram to the Minister for Health, Wellington :—“Wish report Union Joni-' pany before sending Hoeraki Suva quarantined vessel three days, also carry doctor and nurses. Manager reports Hoeraki reaches Suva to-morrow (to-day) so far no sickness on board. In view success Moeraki experiment, and fact that epidemic here greatly improved, respectfully suggest similar experiment bo tried Manuka for Wellington. Manager endorses proposal.”

Mr Blow was thanked for iis efforts on behalf of New Zealanders in Sydney. At the same time it was decided by the meeting to act independently of anything Mr Blow had done. Following this decision, considerable indignation was expressed at tho injustice of the Now Zealand Government’s ■ action, especially as many cases of hardship were quoted, particularly with regard to women and children. After a great deal of discussion, during which nearly the whole 113 persons concerned took part, 1 it was unanimously resolved to send the following cable to the Hon. Sir James Allen, Acting Prime Minister for New Zealand: — “New Zealanders detained hero demand right return immediately, generally known reason not epidemic Australia, hui your neglect provide necessary quarantine aocommoda’tion. This confirmed, bv lion, nusse.i’s cuiole stutemeni. xonr notion unprecedented and intolerable All concern'd consider Government Dubu* for citizens’ monetary loss and intend taking ao’-'in accordingly. Strongly urge that Manuka sailing -.wenty-second will be allowed, take passengers. Urgent reply asked for.”

TTie sub-committee wa« appointed to look after the interests of those present, who handed in their names and Syduv, 1 . -addresses, .thus enabling -a '’omplt’e record to. bo kept, , The following gentlemen were elected:—Chairman, Sir E. A. Batt. Hotel Australia: secretaries, Messrs A. G. Ballinger, Hotel Australia, and R. S. C. Brown. A collection to defray expenses was taken,; amounting to £lO 12s. It was further decided that the subcommittee have power to interview the New Zealand Press Assoeint'on, and take what other steps are necessary to carry out the objects for which tho meeting was called. LETTER TO ACTING-PREMIER.

The following; letter, -dated May 21st, was sent to Sir James Allen by Mr E. A. Batt-.

Sir, —Confirming my cable to you of the 17th sent bn behalf of New Zealand citizens detained here ; indefinitely by the action of your Government in enforcing quarantine regulations of such a nature as to make it practically impossible for shipping companies to • continue passenger traffic between Australia and New Zealand.

I have to inform you that the v cable referred to represents a resolution passed unanimously by a meeting’of New Zealanders held here on Saturday, 17th Inst. They were called together at very short notice, consequently about one hundred and twenty attended. Judging by information gathered at the meeting, I estimate there are nearly 300 bona fide New Zealanders hold up in Australia. Tho cable referred to will indicate to you the feeling that exists amongst people suffering in various ways through this enforced detention. • For your information I will briefly state the main points raised at the meeting and unanimously agreed to. 1. That this meeting fully realises fhe absolute necessity of your Government adopting measures to prevent a recurrence of the influenza epidemic in the Dominion. 2. That tho Minister for Health has i ot administered the regulations in ah effective or equitable manner, viz.:—The crews of ships sailing from here to New Zealand undergo one medical examination only, immediately prior to departure, and in four days time on arrival in New Zealand, are allowed to land—aye have indisputable evidence of this. Passengers, on the other hand undergo medical examination for three consecutive days before sailing, and are unable tc obiain passage without a certificate, showing that they are free from disease. This makes a total of seven days from the date of first inspection till arrival in New Zealand. The question wo naturally ask is, why this discrimination, and what real protection are you giving the community against further ' infection from incoming ships? ’ 3. That instead of suddenly and with out notice stopping passenger traffic or in other words, making it impossible for shipping companies to continue, your Government should have given feasor; able notice, thereby allowing New Zealanders here the opportunity, of;‘returning. * 4. That the . epidemic here was not such a nature as to warrant you takin; such drastic and nreoipitate action. 1 5. That it is. generally known hero, your Government'has been grossly negli gent in not providing adequate accorn modation at the various quarantine stations. 6. That had this accommodation bcoi: provided when the epidemic first apneaed in New Zealand, there would not havbeen the necessity for preventing NeZealanders and others entering the D minion.

7. That tho Hon. Russell’s cabled stsl ments and Dr TTengley’s letter of Ma;, sth, addressed to the Union Steamshi Co. indicate plainly and unmistakably that the whole cause of; our detention it due to.- the New Zealand Government having neglected to provide adequate quarantine accommodation in New Zealand. , 8.. That It is unprecedented for any Government to exclude its own citizens. 9. That had you considered tho injufi tioe you were inflicting on New Zealanders by enforcing tho present regulations, ways and means could have been devised to admit them without risk to tho community.

10. That tho coat of compensating a

shipping company tor possible delay n quarantine would have been oonsiderab.. less than the aggregate cost to citizenuetamad here indefinitely. , 11. That in view ot tne fact that tn, epidemic in Victoria and New SouF Wales has practically disappeared, am. the Governments of both States havremeved all restrictions, there appears rrt* reason for your Government to contimn the embargo on passengers entering tin Dominion, wo therefore respectfully demand a revision of New Zealand’s rcgu.ations. to-enable, at least, boffia fide Nev Zealand citizens to be repatriated forthwith. . . „ . , 12. That in tho opinion of this meeting your Government is using the “Epidemic in Australia" as a means fo:; regaining public confidence lost during the first stages of the epidemic in New Zealand. „ . . In conclusion, and for your information, I m&y stato that at the meeting referred to, a verv strong feeling of resentment was shown regarding the action of your Government, and the unpardonable injustice inflicted upon the citizenof N.Vr Zealand affected. In view of the fact that four days havi elapsed without receiving a reply to mj cable of the T7th. and as a new situa tion has developed through serious labour troubles in Australia that threaten further delay to our return, I have this dav cabled you as 1 follows“Furthei mv cable seventeenth. not received. Berious labour troubles hert makes repatriation New Zealanders forthwith imperative.’ Urge you arrange Manuka sailing twenty-second carry passengers, Government compensate Union Company if necessary for possible delay quarantine or use other steamer Wellington harbour p.s quarantine quarter^ , Hoping that the points referred to at ■‘this meeting will receive the favourable consideration of your .Government.— (Signed) B. A. Batt. for detained New Zealanders in Australia.