SHOCKING DESTITUTION.

Taihape Daily Times, 22 February 1919, Page 7

SHOCKING DESTITUTION.

— o —- HALF-STARVED FAMILY. B’ORDER BARRIER INCIDENT A terrible case of destitution and death, partly caused by the closing of the Queensland border, has come to light in the Tcnterfield’ district, says an Australian paper. A veteran of the South African War, F. Clarke, an upholsterer by trade, with his wife 'and family, (left for Brisbane two mouths ago. in search of work, on the DarlingDowns, On reaching the Downs he found that there was no employment, but was told that if he went to Stanthorpe he would probably be able to earn money fruit picking. He pressed on, earning a feu shillings here and there, but got no permanent work, and eventually -{crossed the bulkier of Queensland into New South Wales ,>at Killaruey on February .2. Hr travelled by means of a broken down horse and old bugg} •

Just after crosing the border his wife became ill and the children, seven in number, were compelled to walk by the side of the vehicle, while their mother occupied one of the seats of the buggy. The children were barefooted rend in rags. They wore also practically starved and almost too weak to walk. When they reached Amosfield, still on the hunt for employment, the quarantine regulations came into force. A doctor and the ambulance at Stanthorpe wore prevented from crossing to assist them. The people of Amosfield did all possible for them for two days, meanwhile endeavouring to got medical assistance for the woman, whose condition was be-

coming serious,

The Tcnterfield. doctor being 40 miles away, and with his bands full, could not leave, but recommended that the patient be brought with all expedition to Tcnterfield. Tlie Amosfield people provided a motorear and brought / the to town, but the woman, died shortly after admission to the hosuital.

The condition of the father and children is wretched in the extreme. They arc prae'id .‘'tally without clothing and arc weak from starvation. They subsisted for days on tin rabbits they could catch, iaml the food they had with them, was not fit to feed dogs. The damper wa's as hard as a brick, and (almost indigestible. The children range from 19 years to about three years, but owing to privation look mucb older.