IMMIGRATION MANAGEMENT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 238, 22 August 1872, Page 6

IMMIGRATION MANAGEMENT.

el The new immigration barrack* in Chris ie church were opened a few days ago, and i the arrangements for the reception, lodj is ment, and hiring ef immigrants that pr as vail there are likely to be adopted here an le at all other places J*> which General G< r- vernment immigrants are t • be mtroducec c, ; we reprint, as likely to be interesting, tl s- following extracts from an article that a] pears in the LyttelUm Times: — ie A very good plan is resorted to in ordc j. that the immigrants may know the enrrec ,d rate of wages in the province. Experienc n has shown this to be a very necessary pre is vision, as immigrants, led away by false it it formation, have not infrequently been know to demand absurdly exorbitant rates, and ii familiar parlance to "stick out" for thei l * until their expulsion from the Barracks ha ie been rendered obligatory. On the afternooi >f ' prior t» the day on which employers are ad >d mitted the Barracks, printed forms ar '« posted' up in every compartment, indicaCinj d the current rites ef wages for a) •c kinds of labour, skilled and unskilled d : so that the immigrants know exactb f- what to ask and what to accept. Al sr engagements are made in writing by em *1 ployer and servant, and witnessed by thi ® Immigration Officer. These engagement! are made so that it will be optional with th< q immigrant to change his situation after thi c expiration of one month's notice to thai j effect ; a similar notice is required on the Q part of the employer. This condition is ma nif cstly fair to both parties, because if an im ' migrant is dissatisfied with his place, or ii j he does not suit his employer, the former wil I in any event have a month's time to looli about him for some ether situation more conU genial to his feelings. In like manner an em j ployer can rid of aa unsuitable servant by forfeiting' a month's wages or by giving the '* required notice. A record (in fact, the original agreement) is kept of the immigrant's name aud that of the peisou who > engaged him or her as the case may be, so i that inquiring friends can readily ascertain 1 their whereabouts. Applications for married i couples, single men, aud single women are i received at the Immigration Office for some • weeks prior to the arrival of an immigrant r ship, and employ eis are allowed to select on 3 the engagement day according to priority of r application. The fiarrackmaster points out ■ to persons applying for married couples or I single men those whom he has ascertained to ; ' be suitable for the respective situatious, and i the matron assists in like manner so far as s the engaging of female servants is concerned. ■ Any- immigrant who refuses a reasonable i offer is required to leave the Banacks at t once, and the fact of such refusal is reported s immediately to the Immigration Officer, and • by him to the Government. Immigrants i who have accepted service are required to leave. the Barracks without delay, and are . not re-admitted. ' Having now described the modus operandi observed in the engaging of immigrants on 1 the third clear day after their arrival at Addington, we shall now proceed to refer briefly to the discipline that is enforced during their location there. Immediately on the immi- ' grants reaching the Barracks, the following 1 code of rules is put into operation : — 1. Accommodation in the Barracks is afforded to immigrants newly arrived for ono week after landing, and no longer, without special permission from the Immigration Officer. 2. 8o person is allowed to enter the Barracks except by an order from the Immigration -Officer. 3. All immigrants accommodated , in the Barracks must be in their rooms by nine o'clock p.m., and must rise at six o'clock from the Ist September to the 31st March inclusive, and at 7 a.m., from the Ist April to the 31st August. The berths and floors must be swept and cleaned out before eight o'clock a.m. 4. Immigrants will be expected to air their bedding daily, and observe strict cleanliness at all times. 5. All slops must be carried to the places appointed for that purpose. 6. No immigrant must write'upon, er in aay way damage, any of the buildings. 7. No tire or light shall be ' kept burning in any room in the Barracks after 9 p. m., except under the direction of the Immigration Officer. 8. No smoking will be allowed at any time in any of the r oms of the Barracks. 9. No immigrant will be allowed to remain in the barracks after obtaining employment, except with the permission of the Immigration Officer. 10. Any immigrant leaving, the Barracks before being engaged, unless authorised by the Immigration Officer, will not be re-admitted. 11. Any person who shall use obscene language, become intoxicated, or violate any of the above rules, will <be immediately expelled from the Barracks. 12. The Immigration Officer may require adult immigrants to do four hours' work daily during their stay in the Barracks. Some years ago a greater latitude was allowed to immigrants after their arrival at the Barracks than is now the case. They were permitted, for example, to make daily visits to Christchurch, but this freedom was oftentimes abused to such a degree that the authorities .resolved on putting an end to , the : practice. At the preient time any immigrant leaving the Barracks before, being en* gaged unless authorised by the Immigration Officer, will not be re admitted— a condition .which, for the sake of the immigrants themselves, cannot be too stringently enforced. Those who. come under the designation of ,•' nominated immigrants" are persons whose friends in the Colony have sent for them through the Government, and these people are allowed to leave the Barracks immediately upon their friends calling for them. In .the case of others who have not been nominated, but whose friends become aware- of their arrival, .it is necessary to obtain an order from' the Immigration 'Officer before the, Barrack Master will permit them to leave the premises. While in Barracks, the, single men, and single women are. on no account allowed to mix with each other,' . both departments being completely isolated. A policeman is in constant attendance to see that none of the rules of the establishment are infringed, and his services are not dispensed with .until such time as the Barrack Master may deem his further attendance, .unnecessary. Immediately after the immigrants by any vessel , have reached the Barracks, notice is given to the medical attendant (Dr Coward), who at once proceeds,, there to make the necessary, inspection, and pays daily visits in order to ascertain whether there are any cases requiring his attention. Two clear days, are given, tp the immigrants to wash and mend their clothes preparatory to their accepting the various situations which are offered to ■ thenVwhenever the barracks are thrown open tp employers, and those who decline to accept ■the current rate of wages (but these are comparatively few,, innumber) are informed that they can ,^eiio longer accommodated at Government expense^. This is a very saluijary" psovision, because it prevents those who arc incline^, to idleness , from indulging their " loafing" propensities at the country's cost." Itatipns upon a liberal, scale are issried daily by,^he Barrack Master from a store on the premifleSj to which the various contractors' for^anj. the commodities enumerated in their "contracts. For 'each adult, the ration consists of rone pound of. bread, one pound of meat,' j ons*'J3orind,'of potatoes, two ounces of sugar,' a quarter'onnce of tea, salt, water, fee. ; and medical comforts are distributed to all who stand in need of them. .'c~, r ' • >■ ■ \ "What is the difference between a Christian man and a Cannibal ? The one en)oys him;, •ell #Od the other wrjoyt people, ■ '-