PLIGHT OF EMIGRANTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 December 1922, Page 5

PLIGHT OF EMIGRANTS.

GRAVE STATEMENTS MADE. “EX-SOLDIERS STARVING.” LORD HAIG’S WARNING. By Telegraph.—Press Asm).—Copyright. Received Dec. 3, 5.5 p.m. London. Dec. 1. Lord Haig, speaking at Manchester, said he had received a telegram from a Dominion Governor asking for £lOOO to help ex-soldiers who had emigrated. He was not going to advise emigration until he knew that things were right. Lord Haig added: “I want to hear of letters coming to our people from our colonies saying ‘there is plenty of work and you will be all right if you come to us.’ I have letters from places like Queensland and from some other Dominions saying many of our gallant men who have gone out there are starving. I am not going to be so unfriendly to our unemployed ex-soldiers here as to advise them to emigrate until I know things are all right. I am not going to tell them to leave here until the Dominions set their own houses in order.” . .

•Sir Joseph ■Cook (High Commissioner for Australia), interviewed, said this was the most serious and most damaging attack yet made on the migration arrangements, especially in view of the speaker’s authority. Sir Joseph Cook quoted returns showing that in the last quarter of this year over 4250 ex-service men had gone or were going to Australia. All were arranged for by the various Governments, who undertook to place.them, and a largo proportion were nominated by Australians, who would be responsible for their welfare.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Association.