UNFIT IMMIGRANTS

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 74, 29 March 1922, Page 8

UNFIT IMMIGRANTS

DISABLED IMPERIAL SOLDIERS CLOSER SUPERVISION NECESSARY. Emphasis was laid by an R.S.A. deputation which met the Ministers of Labour and Public Works to-day upon the necessity for closer supervision of the immigrants coming to New Zealand. Mr. L. 0. H. Tripp, chairman of the Wellington War Relief Association, said that his association found that Imperial ex-soldiers were coming here who should not be, because of their war disabilities. There were not many of them, but they should not be brought out. He cited one particular case of a man who had commuted his pension arid was now quite unfit for work. His wife and children would probably be a chargo upon the country. He suggested that the Government should ■ ask the High Commissioner to -see if they could not have better supervision of the men who were allowed to come out.

Sir Donald M'Gavin, Director-General of Medical Services, who was invited by the Minister to speak, said that Mr. Tripp had shown restraint in discussing this matter. There were very largo numbers of these men coming out to New Zealand. They were mainly T.B. and mental cases. There were quite a number of ex-Imperial soldiers on pensions suffering from mental diseases in the 1 hospitals, and other cases in the sanatoria. There were other ex-service patients who had no pensions, and again some men who did not claim to be ex-service patients. He certainly thought that there should be some better supervision of the men who were allowed to come out here, and who were found afterwards to be suffering serious disabilities. An examination of the medical history sheets would assist in giving valuable information.

The Hon. G. J. Anderson, Minister of Labour, said that he would bring the matter under the attention of the Minister of Immigration and have it thoroughly inquired into. It was news to him, and he was sure that it was also news to his colleague, Mr. Coates. The Government had some months ago stopped all immigration except of men isent out by the Imperial Government and nominated immigrants.