IMMIGRATION MISMANAGEMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 557, 13 February 1878, Page 2

IMMIGRATION MISMANAGEMENT.

The following information, which wo havo just received, will, wo imagine, bo calculated to open the eyes of the publio into the way in which matters are managed in the Immigration Department at home, We beg to draw the attention of the Government to tho subject, and to urge on them the necessity of instituting an in* ijuiry. Not very long ago, a medical gentleman then in London, who is now in New Zealand, being desirous of coining out to the Colony, applied at tho AgentGeneral's office for a ship. He got tho reply, "Very sorry; the list in full." Subsequently, ho obtained a passage an doctor of an ordinary passenger ship, Before starting, however, lip went to (lie shop of Mr. Moore, druggist, St. Mary's Axe, to get some drugs for his ship. Mr. Moore asked him why lie hud not taken an emigrant ship. He answered that he had applied at the Agent-General's office for one, but was told that the list was full. "Oh," replied Mr. Moore, "His no use your applying at tho AgentGeneral's office. If you want an emigrant ship, I can get oue for you. There is one just about starting, and no surgeon has yet been appointed." It transpiroil, on further conversation, that in uw.it r to tho attainment of the desired end, a littlo arrangement would havo to be entered into with Mr. Moore, by which thst gentleman would get Is. out of the 10?, per immigrant which the doctor, if hu behaved himself properly, might expect tq receive on reaching his destination. Tliuh, it appeal's that these most important appointments are shamefully jobbed. Thero is no overrating the mischief that may bo done by the appointment of bad doctors to immigrant ships. Where discipline and good order is not maintained on board a ship carrying a miscellaneoim cargo of men and women, not only will the corrupt becoine moro corrupt than tliey were before, but thepe is tho most terrible danger that oven tho innooent will become corrupt as well. Possibly tho information above given affords so explanation of the fact that dootors tq whom the Boards of J-JeajtU at pprU of arrival havo certificates of rec.o,npnendaliori acq' actually found, to gcj ships bound for the very same porl« again.— Hawke's Bay Herald,