GIRL EMIGRANTS THE Y.W.C.A. CHARGES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 5, 28 February 1913, Page 3

GIRL EMIGRANTS THE Y.W.C.A. CHARGES

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S ENQUIRY. (Front Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON. 22nd January. Ever since tho first fleet sailed for Australia statements have been made about the conduct of girl emigrants. 'Many of the charges, doubtless, were true; and while human nature is what ii is thero will always be some difficulty in securing the most exemplary conduct on the part of all girl eniigrsnts. Yet it cannot be denied that the conditions st the present time am probably better than they have ever been and more conducive to the good behaviour of the girls who go to tho Dominions. The resolution of the Young Women* Christian Association, calling the attention of the < Government "to the depkirible conditions that exist among girls irought out to the colonies) on emigrant shi^Ei, and the lack of proper accornmO' -!ation ? sanitation and moral discipline" b .indignantly resented by all here who *re in any way connected with the emigration of girls to New Zealand. I rave on several previous occasions stated clearly the precautions which are taken by Mr. Donne's branch of the High Commissioner's Office to prevent anything of the sort complained of. The. girls sent Out under Government auspices are most carefully selected. They have to\ produce the best evidence, in tho way of testimonials, of their character ; and this evidence is corroborated whero possible by personal interview. The greatest care is taken in the selection* of the girls, and so fay nob a single complaint has been received by tho office in Victoria-street regarding the character of girls sent out as Government emigrants. It is not sufficiently realised in r»ew Zealand that if a girl can pay her own passage inouey the Government has? no power over her. She can emitfrat/j as a free emigrant and can la/id fa New Zealand despite the Government unless they can prove her to bs a convicted criminal, an imbecile, or to come overwise within the limited class of 2nrigrants which it has a right to reject. The Eigh Commissioner's Office cannot 'properly be held responsible for the character of all the girls who go from England to New Zealand. A girl rejected as a Government emigrant may quite legitimately go to New Zealand as a free emigrant; and neither the Government nor the shipping companies can be held to blame. THE HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPLY. Mr. Mackenzie says he is quite satisfied Mr. Donne takes the greatest care in selecting the girls and also regarding the conditions on board the ships. All doubtful cases are submitted to him' self (Mr. Mackenzie) and he personally investigates them, and decides. "I have personally inspected the vessels of both the shipping companies and the accommodation provided, and in my opinion, considering the small prices paid for the passages, the accommodation is excellent. Compared with the emigrant ships which brought out td New Zealand many of the best of our old settlers, •what is now given as steerage accommodation is equal to what was then given for the cabin. No doubt the Sew Zealand Government is blamed for passengers who go out on ' their own account and are under no sort of supervision. Well, people' have a perfcdjnght to go, aridptne shipping companies, accept them as respectable. I have reports from both companies on the matter, and also I can show you the regulations under which matrons are ap■pdmted/by us to- look after parties of girls going onfc^ There are some women occasionally who are in no way connected with this office but who are delirious of going out in charge of parties of girls; and when this oftce does not see its way to delegate its responsibilities in the selection of' wellknown and trusted women troublesometimes arises with those who are disappointed casting reflections on the <sha*a<ste?i* of the glris and the conditions'under which they are sent out." MATRONS' INSTRUCTIONS.. The instructions which the High Commissioner's Office gives to the women appointed to act as matrons in charge of girl , emigrants enjoin them to exercise "moiheriy supervision and influence over the girls," •to gain their confidence and goodwill so. as to avoid friction, and to reinforce their authority, if need be, by an . appeal to the captain. Where parents travel with their daughters the matrons are not supposed to exercise any supervision Unless requested by the parents -to do so. Where there are two' matrons, one is supposed to be always on deck while the other is taking meals with the girls. The girls have to leave the deck and retire to their berths by, 10 p.m., except for an extension in the event of a concert or dance on board. The girls are not to be permitted to go ashore alone or in the company of men only, and when parties are made up for the shore older girls are to be placed in authority over the younger. AVthe end' <ti the voyage a report on each girl's con'duet is supposed to be handed to the Immigration Department. These provisions only apply, of course, to girla who are getting advantage of the ■Government reduced passages, and have given satisfactory evidence of good character. Over other girls on the ship the Government has no authority, and for them it cannot be held responsible. WHAT THE COMPANIES SAY. . With regard to them the two companies concerned state emphatically that care is taken to secure -that the girls aB&ll be carried under the best conditions and shall be supervised as far as possible. They resent strongly the making of statements without giving details to justify them. The Shaw, Savill, and Albion. Company says: "We can honestly say that we. do everything in our power to safeguard the comfort and moral wellbeing , of passengers of all grades entrusted to our care. In the absence of specific complaint to the contrary we have been under the impression that these efforts on our part have been sue-* dgditl, and we certainly resent such a reflection as in convened in the l'esolu,tion. -It must be manifest that our personal control over such matters ceases with the despatch of our steamers, and that unless we are promptly informed of anything of tho kind pointed to in specific instances we can take no steps to remedy the defect or punish the offenders." The New Zaland Shipping 'Company eaye : "We desire to protest most strongly against the general condemnation exprCUoed in the resolution, and to say tb.at.it does not apply to this company's steamers." The company states that it is' alwaj-s most ready to consider and adopt' any suggestion for improving the conditions under which emigrants are taken ' out to the colonies.