SHOCKING DESTITUTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 February 1919, Page 6

SHOCKING DESTITUTION.

HALF-STARVED FAMILY. BORDER BARRIER INCIDENT. A terrible case of destitution and death, partly caused by the closing of the Queensland border, has come to light in the Tenterfield 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 months ago, in search of work on the Darling Downs. On reaching the Downs he found that there was no employment, but was told that if he went to Stanhorpe he would probably be able to earn money fruit picking. He pressed on, earning a few shillings here and there, but got 110 permanent work, and eventually crossed the border of Queensland into New South Wales at Killarney 011 February 2. He travelled by meanß of a broken-down horse and old buggy. Just after crossing 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 and in rags. They were 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 were prevented from crossing to assist them. The people of Amosfield did all possible for them for two days, meanwhile endeavoring to get medical assistance for the woman, whose condition was becoming serious. The Tenterfield doctor being 40 miles away, and with his hands full, could not leave, but recommended that the patient be brought with all expedition to Tenterfield. The Amosfield people provided a motor-car and brought the family to town, but the woman died shortly after admission to the hospital. The condition of the father and children is wretched in the extreme. They are practically without clothing, and are weak from starvation. They subsisted for days on the rabbits they could catch, and the food they had with 'them was not fit to feed dogs. The damper was as hard as a brick, and almost indigestible. The.children range from 19 years of age to about three years, but owing to privation look much older.