STOWAWAYS’ STORY

Evening Star, Issue 17958, 3 May 1922, Page 2

STOWAWAYS’ STORY

ENGLISH LADS SEEKING WORK. FROM LEEDS TO WELLINGTON. A 1,600 MILE TRAMP IN ENGLAND.’ In conversation with a 1 Dominion ’ reporter, two youthful stowaways who arrived by tho Matakana last week and wore put on probation, told tho story of the trials and tribulations they underwent in search of work in England before they summoned up courage to stow away on the Matakana at Cardiff on March 16 in order to reach a country whore there was a chance of honestly earning their daily bread.

“I am twenty-one years of age,” said Harold Law, who acted as spokesman for the pair, “and I served in the Great War in Italy for twelve months and afterwards on the Western front, finishing up at Cologne four months aCter tho armistice. On my discharge from the Army 1 secured employment as ft dental mechanic in Leeds, but during tho coal strike in 1921 business fell off to such an extent that I lost my position. I tried hard to get employment, but tilings were at a standstill, and practically no business of any kind was doing. In order to buy food I was compelled to pawn my ’clothes, and this went on until I had nothing left to pawn. “Then, like thousands more at the time, 1 was forced to leave tho city of Leeds and take to the King’s highway. This was at the end of July, in 1921. Though I tried my hardest to get work, I was eight months on tho road, and in that time tramped 1,500 miles. We slept under hedges and haystacks, and lived as best wo could.

“ Wc were not tho only pedestrians jogging along tho highway at that time,” proceeded the young Englishman. “Things were, ao bad in the country that thousands of men, women, and children were homeless and were compelled to live a nomadic life like gypsies, moving from place to place, and living from hand to mouth.” They had to keep a strict lookout for tho police, declared tho young stowaway, as there was a common saying in England that if you wore found tramping tlio country you would be given six months, whereas if you stole a watch you would be let off.

“It took mo Eomo time,” said Harold Law, “ before I could bring myself to beg for food at tho doors of houses, but I eventually’ was forced to it. The poorhouses are not desirable places of abode in England. I and my vagabond companion were lodged in the poorhouso at Hereford, but we found conditions so im. savory that wo escaped by scaling the walls, and set out on the road once more.”

“What parts of England did you tramp over?” asked tho pressman, “Well,” replied Law, “we set out from Leeds and made our way to Kb field. From that city wo took tho main London road, and eventually reached tho Metropolis. Being unsuccessful in obtaining work of any kind in London, wo set off again for Birmingham, and from (heneo walked to Stratford-on-Avon. and from this historic/ town made our way to Manchester, and subsequently to Liverpool. Then we started on a long 200-mile tramp to Barry, in South Wales, averaging twenty-six miles a day, am? begging our food on the way. Wo found the going very hard, as the general depression hadcaused the working people to be very poor, and the rich people were very unsympathetic. I had had nothing to cat for three days when we at length reached Cardiff.” " And where do yon come in in the great adventure?” asked the reporter of Richard Tracy, who is 18 years of age. “ Oh, I joined Harold at Shrewsbury,” replied the lad. “What did yon do for a living?” “I was a. rotten mill hand at Hollingwood, near Manchester, and was receiving 35a per week in 1921. However, the mills were only working three days a, week, and eventually they closed down altogether in November. I could not find work of any kind, and so, like thousands more, was compelled to tramp the country in order to keep body and soul together.” A KINDLY SKIPPER.

“How did you come to get aboard the ‘Matakana?” inquired the pressman. “Wo met a coal trimmer, who was assisting to coal the Matakana,” replied Law, “and ho took pity on our sorry plight-. He smuggled ns aboard, and showed ns whore- to stow n.way safely. Wo did so, and were not discovered until we were well out to sea.”

“Did you get- tho rope’s end when you were discovered?”

“No,” said Law: “Captain Bosdct treated us most kindly. Wo were nearly starved to death, and were in ill-health through vermin and privation. Instead of upbraiding ns, Captain Bosdct gave ns suitable clothing, and very kindly had us placed under the care of the ship’s doctor for a fortnight. Then he put ns to work, but it was more like putting in time than working. Wo bad been looking for work for eight months, and wore only too glad to do anything. “ Since our arrival in Wellington Captain Bosdct has been most kind to ns,” ridded Law, “and I would ho very glad, if you would thank him for us. He has allowed us to stay on the steamer while j wo look for employment. Tho Salvation -Army is trying to find us work, and wo hope they 'will succeed, as wo are keen to tackle anything.”