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Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 270, 11 May 1912, Page 5

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A HARD CASE. RESTRICTIVE SHIPPING LAW. An exceedingly hard case under the immigrants' resriction law was brought to light on Wednesday on the arrival of the Warrimoo from Sydney. Mrs. Norah Williams, aged <54 years, whose husband died many years ago, came to New Zealand some five years since from Johannesburg, on a visit to relatives. 'For a time she stayed at Lyttelton, but family differences led her to take up her residence for twelve months with the Sisters of the Poor in Auckland. Subsequently she lived in Wanganui. Her daughter in Johannesburg having written offering her mother a home, Mrs. Williams raised £l4 to pay her passage buck to South Africa. Accordingly she left Wellington for Sydney by the Maungnnui about three weeks ago. On arrival at Sydney, Mrs. Williams informed a New Zealand Times reporter, the agents of the Marathon—she had booked through Cook's Agency—asked her if anybody had guaranteed the requisite ,£2O for her maintenance on landing at Durban. No one had done so. Only her passage money had been paid. All she could reply was that her daughter would give her a home in Johannesburg. That was not sufficient for the shipping company. Mrs. Williams was ordered back to New Zealand, and arrived in Wellington practically destitute, and with nowhere to go. The passengers by the Warrimoo relieved her temporary wants by means of a subscription raised for her on the voyage from Sydney. Mrs. Williams is now being "buffeted about, homeless and friendless, and yet a haven awaits her in Johannesburg. This is surely a case that merits a little of the "milk of human kindness." It should interest one or other of the private charity institutions in Wellington, wsho may feel disposed to give the necessary guarantee required by the shipping company before they will carry her back to South Africa. Her present address is 11 Drummond street, Wellington.