IMMIGRANTS' COMPLAINTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 December 1920, Page 4

IMMIGRANTS' COMPLAINTS.

AS TO NOT BEING MET,

CAUSE EXPLAINED.

By Telep-aph.—Press Association,

Auckland, Last Night.

An explanation of the position in regard to immigrants to New Zealand under the Imperial Overseas Settlement Committee's scheme, was made by Mr. Thomson, Under-Secretary for immigration.

Complaints have been made that some of these immigrants, who nave travelled by way ni' Australia, have not been met on arrmi! by officer* of the. Immigration lA'iiartinont, and have had a difficulty in finding accommodation. Mr. Thomson r-u'ul ilie grounds for such oomph: inl.s arose wholly from the fact that In the crises concerned the Department did not receive any notilication to inspect those people. Some hundreds of immigrants under the Imperial scheme had been booked to Australia, in many cases without any arrangement for their conveyance to New Zealand. In some cases the Department had been advised of their position, and had arranged passages for them by inter-colonial steamers. In otlicrs the immigrants had not approached the authorities, but had themselves paid for passages, and consequently the Department knew nothing of them until they were in the Dominion.

Recognising that the position was unsatisfactory, the Government had telegraphed to the High Commissioner on November 3,1, asking him to make representations to the Imperial Committee with a view to preventing such complications. Sir Jas. Allen had replied that it was not intended that Imperial immigrants should travel to New Zealand by the Australian route. Coupons for passages arc issued by the Imperial Committee to approved ex-soldiers, and these were available through the ordinary emigration agentfi, and thus the committee lost control.

There are approximately 4000 men, not including wives and families, waiting for passages to Now Zealand, to whom the coupons have been issued, and as these make their own arrangements with the local agents, the High Commissioner cannot control them. Those who travel via.Australia do so without authority or knowledge of the committee or of the High Commissioner, therefore the Government of New Zealand is in no way liable for any expenses. Mr. Thomson said the Government nad now asked the High Commissioner to arrange with the Imperial Committee and shipping agonfc and companies that no more immigrants for New Zealand shall be despatched via Australia, Thtj Government iias suggested the issue of a circular to all"the companies and agents concerned, instructing them that persons presenting warrants for New Zealand are to be booked bv the direct route only, and has asked the High Commissioner to arrange with the Imperial Committee for printing of this instruction on all future warrants.

The Department understands that a considerable-number of. immigrants are already en route via Australia, so that the rtifficultiefi previously experienced cannot be immediately remedied. Its policy is tn Afford every possible assistance to inuni'ii-ints, whether they arrive under the Imperial m the' New Zealand Government's scheme, and, so far as it can obtain information of arrivals from Australia, will afford them the same facilities as those travelling by the direct route.