SEARCHING STEAMERS

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 17, 20 July 1921, Page 6

SEARCHING STEAMERS

■ "If I wanted to searoli that ship, with 350 passengers on board, I would have to employ a mob of policemen," a Post reporter was informed to-day; by a police official, in answer to a question 1 td to why passengers to Siyduey by. the E..M.S. Tahiti last Monday wer,e compelled to come ashore and wait on the wharf, while the vessel was being searched, instead of being gathered together in some special place on the vessel. It was pointed out that although isomo passport restrictions had been lifted on passenger traffic to Australia, it ,wius still necessary,, in some cases, to obtain a permit before leaving New Zealand. Those who did not require permits wero treated the 6ffme as those who did,

To secure their ends, the police officials, though at all times doing everything in their power to minimise the inconvenience to the public, found that the only method that could be adopted with success was the' One now in vogue—clearing the ship. They were then able to make a thorough and systematic search, for unauthorised persons who may have secreted themselves on board.

A correspondent writes to Tho Posl complaining against the system. The police authorities state that' although the present system cannot be done away with, only the - able-bodied are required to go ashore. It has invariably boen the custom m unfavourable weather, that women and children remain on board.