BACK FROM AUSTRALIA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 91, 11 January 1919, Page 8

BACK FROM AUSTRALIA

STRANDED *NEYV ZEALANDERS RETURN . AFTER TWO MONTHS OF WAITING ' Auckland, .January 10. Fifty New Zealanders wlio. have been stranded in Sydney for nearly two months as a result of tho shipping difficulties returned to Auckland yesterday by the Port Lyttelton. About twelve of tho passengers belong to Auckland, and others to Wellington and tho south. Of tho number returning nine were women, who, when interviewed, all expressed the'.utmost thankfulness at having succeeded in reaching homo at last. Several of them had been detained in Sydney since the beginning of .November, and owing to financial difficulties and domestic anxieties had experienced a most trying and altogether unenviable time. To add to their'wbrries word was received by, two or three that members their families in NeW.. Zealand had been stricken with influenza, and one mother, whilo unsuccessfully endeavouring to return home, received news of the death.of her son. , . "One thing I would particularly like to mention is tliQ fiplendid way in which' the men helped us," said one woman passenger. "I do not know what wo 'would have, done without them, for they formed a committee and interviewed the shipping companies and, authorities, and did everything in their power to help us. There were about 300 New Zealanders altogether in Sydney, and we soon became acquainted with one an. other through meeting at the shipping office trying to get _ passages. Wo met nearly every day whilo waiting and hoping against hopo that we would soon be able to leave. I myself, reached Sydney on November 4, intending to return by tha. Moeraki on November . 14. We went straight'into Quarantine, however, '■ and had • to. stay there a week, and before we wore allowed out tho Eiverina and tho Niagara had left and there' was no hopo of getting another boat Very few left by the Port Sydney, which "cached Whakatan'o a little while ago, but the rest of us had to stay on." Other passengers also spoke' appreciatively of tho help rendered by Messrs. Beveridge, 'Andrews, and Simpson, of Wellington; who > organised a. New Zealanders' Committee, and who were also passengers by tho Port Lyttelton.

"SOME ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT MONEY." . Bp Telcgrash—Presß Association. Auckland, January 10. A/cablegram was/received .from Sydney -yesterday by an Auckland resident in' which a New Zealander at, present on 'a- visit' to , Australia stated, inter alia:—. "Over one hundred New Zealanders are stranded -here. Some are absolutely -without inoiiey. There is,no sign of.the Makura ' getting : away for some weeks; and we feel sure,, the Government does not know .the tpe,position. Unless the dispute'is settled'urgently I predict extensive industrial troubles. The position is delicate." PLIGHT OF AUSTRALIANS IN NEW' : ZEALAND. The, Mayor, lias gone no further with Hie. negotiations which lie"took in hand a few days'ago on behalf of the stranded Australians -in'', this country. He stated yesterday that tho task.had grown somewhat since lie had at first undertaken it, as the numbers of tho strjvnded people had increased a great-deal. He liad received numerous telegrams, fromi peoplo •who had not been-membere of the original parties who had interviewed him. All tho advice''that Mr. Luko lias received 'on the matter is a telegram from tlio Acting-Prime Minister to the effect that ho has mode a proposal to the Australian Government'that tho ship which it is proposed shall convey the stranded people back to their homes 6hall not be subject to quarantine' if she should touch at an Australian- port. AIJ, that the New Zealand authorities ask is that tho passengers be taken off at the port and that the ship be allowed to proceed. If the Commonwealth authorities choose to quarantine the passengers to be landed' in Australia that is a matter with which the New Zealand authorities are not concerned, transport can apparently he provided if the Commonwealth Government will allow the ship to go on I'er voyage without delay/.