STRANDED NEW ZEALANDERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 July 1919, Page 5

STRANDED NEW ZEALANDERS.

TRYING EXPERIENCES IN N.S.W. THEATRICALS GIVEN PREFERENCE TO OTHERS. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Wellington, July 14. According to a statement made to a press representative by some of the 800 New Zealanders who returned by the Manuka to-day after an enforced stop in Sydney of three months, .there were many cases of genuine distress amongst the stranded. Complaint was made that the allowance made by the New Zealand Government was inadequate, never exceeding 25s a week, for which everyone had to give an lO.U. The passengers resented the statement of the Hon. G. W. Russell that in his opinion there was no real distress. Some produced tickets showing that they had been obliged to pawn articles to raise money to relieve their wants, and were unable to redeem them.

The reporters were assured that thp Government had not done all it could have done to facilitate the return of the exiles. About 150 more persons are still in Sydney, trying to get back to the Dominion. There is l great indignation that steamers from Australia were allowed to carry a number of theatrical companies to the exclusion of men, women, and children who had been waiting a long time to return to this country. STATEMENT BY/ ACTING-PREMIER. By Telegraph—Press Association, Wellington, Last Night. Sir James Allen, in a statement combating Mr. Batt's remarks that the Government did nothing to help the New Zealanderg to get home, said: "I personality made every effort I could to get the Manuka away, and so did' the Union Company. More than that I did everything I could to get the Seamen's Union in Australia to allow the Moeraki to get away. I have also interested myself in procuring the Prinzessin to bring back the New Eealanders. It is quite wrong to say that the New Zealand Government, represented by the Acting-Pritrie Minister, has not done all it could to secure the transport for the stranded New Zealanders. The Prinzessin is, I hope, in Sydney now taking the .balance of the stranded New Zealandera on board. At the eamo time she is bringing coal for the railways. This ship has bctn made available to us for this service by the courtesy of the Shipipng Controller, with whom we have been in correspondence."

Sir James Allen said the instructions of the Government to the agent in Sydney, was that 110 money should be spared to give Telief to all deserving cases of distress among the Btranded New Zealanders. DISCHARGING THE MANUKA', Wellington, Last Night. The secretary of the Waterside Workers' Union states that discharging operations on the Manuka will probably be commenced on Wednesday.