DIED BY ROADSIDE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 452, 6 September 1928, Page 11

DIED BY ROADSIDE

IMMIGRANT’S HISTORY TRACED

HAD been in good billets

■(TBE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter.) WII I.J i-1 N(i TO N, Wednesday. Dying by the roadside at Otaiki, North Auckland, an Irish immigrant, left a pathetic letter saying he had failed to win a livelihood- To-day, in the House of Representatives, the Prime Minister indicated that the man had been in good billets and had been given assistance. Replying to a question put by Mr. J. c Rolleston (Wuitomo), the Prime Minister said that he had seen the cable published in New Zealand, and quoted from the “Daily Herald” in London, with reference to the death of „ man named Dominie Nolan at' Otaika. He gave the history of the man. “So far as it was known to the authorities,” he said, “he was not an assisted immigrant. Notwithstanding this he was met by immigration officers, offered assistance, advice, and work. He decided, however, to lend for himself, and proceeded to the North Auckland district. Nothing further was heard of him until October, 1926, at which date he secured, employment with Mr. Mason, a farmer at Maromaku, where he remained until March, 1928. At this farm he was housed, fed, and paid well, and was never asked to work if he did not feel like it, and pleased himself, at most times, when he left off. Clothes and Money

“When he finally left this job lie had * plentiful supply of clothes, and drew the balance of his wages due, £S 10s. He then went to work for Mr. Wallace, a farmer at Tovvai, and left there on April 26, 1928, drawing £1 12s 6d, the balance of wages due. It was known that he then proceeded to Whangarei, .spending his money, and he evidently wandered a couple of miles out of town and lay down in the scrub alongside the road and died.” With reference to the statement imputed in the cablegram to the secretary of the Waitomo Labour " Party, Mr. Coates said that it would be advisable for Labour secretaries, before circulating damaging reports concerning the Dominion, to obtain the true facts. Mr. H. E. Holland: It is not denied that his letter was found. Mr. Coates said that lie had further information, but he did not think it advisable to give it. The man had been arrested and convicted at Whangarei. Tie also had been an inmate of the Whangarei Hospital for five weeks, suffering from heart trouble. That was during the time he had been employed by Mr. Mason. Mr. Holland: The letter the man himself left was sent to the “Daily Herald.” Mr. Coates: For every letter of complaint we have a number Mr. Holland: Was it not the man’s own letter that was sent to the “Daily Herald”? Mr. Coates: That I cannot say, but anyhow, the information was supplied according to the report to the Labour secretary at Waitomo. “Ridiculous Nonsense” The letter contained incorrect statements. It was ridiculous nonsense to say that there were hundreds of men walking about, starving. Mr. Holland: It said “hundreds of men,” that is quite true. Mr. Coates: I do not think there are hundreds of starving men walking about this country. There were meri who had had difficulty in getting work, but when people say that there are hundreds of men walking about the roads starving, well, I think people in the country districts are the best judges of that. Mr. W. E. Parry: They are sleeping under bridges in Auckland. Mr. Coates: I say labour unions have a duty. It is not generally realised that secretaries pounce on men on relief work for their dues. Mr. Holland: That is not a fact. No union compels a man to pay up when he is out of work. Mr. Speaker said he was afraid this discussion did not come within the scope of the question. The Prime-Minister said lie had letsaying that the position was as he had stated, and he concluded by saying that it would be just as well to throw out a broad bint that people should fall into line and help.

Members then proceeded to discuss answers given by Ministers to questions during the week.