THE SHENTON CASE.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12443, 5 March 1906, Page 6

THE SHENTON CASE.

Matters in connection with the case of the lad Alfred Shenton, now an inmate of the consumption camp, have advanced an infinitesimal stage during the last week. The Government previously were only able to state that they "understood,' that the shipping company owning the Morayshire, by which Shenton came to New Zealand, were willing to take him back to England. Now they state definitely that the company will send the led Home free of charge as aoon as his health permits, and that they "will give him every attention on " the voyage." The gain, however, amounts, to very little, for, as we eaid last week, there is no present prospect of Shenton being able to take the voyage for a long time to come. His condition, is such that it is extremely unlikely that Dr. Greenwood would give* certificate that he could be removed from the camp—a fact of which both the Government end the shipping company are perfectly well aware. In the meantime'the Government persevere in refusing to accept any responsibility for the lad's maintenance. They are quite content that this Should be borne by the private citizen who happened to be the means of savong Shenton from dying in the streets of Christchurch. Apparently nothing can shame Ministers into doing their duty in the matter. The letter from Shenton's father which we publish to-day shows that he has no desire to eva<Jo hie responsibilities, but he is a man in straitened circumstances, with a large family. The task of paying for his son's ill-advised trip, to New Zealand was evidently a strain on 5 * his resources, and one may well, imagine that to meet the cost of his maintenance here for an indefinite .period would place him in great difficulties. Shenton, as it proves, wee no fit immigrant for New Zealand, hut, having been allowed to knd, the duty of looking after him rests directly upon the shipping company or the Government, and though the defective state of the law may enable the former to escape legal liability, there is no loophole whereby the Government can evade .their moral responsibility in the matter. Their present attitude reflects np credit upon their feelings of humanity or their sense of duty. .