RETURNED HOME.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 237, 6 October 1936, Page 9

RETURNED HOME.

4604 LAST YEAR. INDIGENTS IN NEW YORK. SAVING TO STATE TAXPAYERS New York State, through a "deportation service" all its own, sent more stranded jobseekers, invalids, unemployables and others likely to become public charges back to the States and foreign countries from which they 'came during the fiscal year ended June 30 than in any previous year. This was revealed by figures prepared by Harry M. Hirsch, assistant commissioner of the State Department of Social Welfare, for inclusion in the department's annual report. Mr. Hirsch heads the division of State aid, which last year arranged for the removal of 4(504 indigent non-residents and aliens to their home communities in all parts of the world. Almost unknown to the general public, the division has effected the transfer of 27,337 persons since 1925.

For taxpayers here these transfers have meant a saving of many millions of dollars —some estimates put the total as high as 35,000,000 dollars—in charges for food, shelter and special care, which the State or local communities would otherwise be called upon to bear. Humane System Used. The removal of these dependant persons, through a system which Mr. Hirsch and liis aides have tried to make "most humane and sympathetic in considering the welfare of each individual case," is New York's answer to a problem which lias caused some Western States to post armed guards at the border to turn back tourists and job hunters who arc unable to demonstrate financial solvency. Last year the actual cost of the removals was 77,000 dolars. Since 1925 the aggregate cost has been 403,310 dollars. Use of Federal half-fare orders and co-operation with consular officials and the United States Immigration Scrvice have helped cut down charges. The extent of the saving is diflicuit to determine, Mr. Hirscli admitted, but he suggested a "conservative yardstick" by which an estimate could be made. "You would bo safe," he said, "in putting the cbst of maintaining each individual at 500 dollars a year. At that rate the cost to our citizens of supporting for just one year the 4604 persons whom we removed in the year 1935-1936 would have been 2,302,000 dollars, as against the relatively insigniflcent sum it cost to remove them. Pyramided for Each Year. "One must remember, too, that the maintenance cost for one year would be pyramided for every year that these people remained here in need of aid. The vast majority of last year's group and of the 22,733 whom we removed in the 10 preceeding years would continue to require care year after year in many cases until they died, for a large percentage of those whom we seny. out" of the State are persons for whom there is no hope of self support e J el - We could not build institutions fast enough to care for them all." The saving to New York State is neutralised only in small part, acording to Mr. Hirsch, by the reciprocal return of impecunious State citizens from other sections. He pointed out that J*ew York, with its diversity of enterprise and amusement, was a magne. for all types of people, including many without means.