AN UNUSUAL DEPUTATION

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22359, 24 March 1938, Page 5

AN UNUSUAL DEPUTATION

FAMILY FROM THE FAR NORTH

HELP SOUGHT AT PARLIAMENT

BUILDINGS

(TRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

WELLINGTON, March 23,

Accompanied by a dog and a pet quail in a cage, and looking a little out of their element, 10 barefoot children and their mother descended on Parliament Buildings 'about 8 o clock this morning in one of the strangest pilgrimages ever undertaken in this country. They were the Wilkins family, from the far north. They ware in search of help and shelter after 12 years on an isolated farm property at Doubtless Bay. Arrangements were made for their transport to-night to Christchurch, where Mrs Wilkins has relatives, and where arrangements have been made to supply them with food and shelter. The whole family recently attracted attention by walking from the farm at Whaluwhiwhi, Doubtless Bay, to Whangarei. On their arrival at Parliament Buildings the Minister for Railways (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) saw that the family was immediately given breakfast, and they were given over to the care of the Smith Family.

When the attention of the Minister for Lands (the Hon. F. Langstone) was drawn to the case he said that the State definitely had a duty to the citizens, but a citizen also had a duty to the State, and this duly was to avoid creating difficulties by his own actions, and then expecting the State to provide the means of a solution of those difficulties. “This is a case very much in point,”-he said. "In 1926 Mr Wilkins bought this poor isolated tract of country, knowing full well that it had water access only, that its only neighbours were natives, and that the rearing of a family of 10 children in such conditions was not going to be a very simple or comfortable task.

, "From my point of view,” added the Minister, “it is a pity that this family remained at Doubtless Bay so long, as I am certain that it was not conducive to the well-being of Mr and Mrs Wilkins, or members of the family, whose general education and progress must have been retarded through living in this isolated state.”