MIGRANTS’ FITNESS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 140, 18 May 1925, Page 5

MIGRANTS’ FITNESS.

RIGOROUS EXAMINATION DESIRED.

BY R.S.A. CONFERENCE.

“This association strongly endorses the policy p£ encouraging tfhe migration of British subjects to New Zealand, but is also firmly convinced that adequate steps must bo taken by tho authorities to see that all such persons entering this country shall have baen subjected to an examination and passed as medically fit,” was tho text of a remit from the Wellington branch considered at the annual district conference of the Returned Soldiers’ Association on Saturday afternoon. “There ara many drifting into this country who should never liavo been allowed to land,” said Mr W. J. Pascoo, the Wellington delegate, in moving that the remit be forwarded on to the annual Dominion conference. Many had become a charge upon this community, he continued, and it would have been far better for them to have remained at Home. Some came out here exacting to have an easy time and had gone back disappointed to Great Britain, where they were doing New Zealand harm. “Any man who comes out to this country must be able to take off his coat and do a good day’s work. A. lot of men come out here with tho idea that the Government has soft jobs for them.” He was strongly of the opinion that medical evidence as to migrants’ fitness should be produced before they were allowed to come out. , , Mr A. Abbott (Marton) commented that the conference bad sent forward remits of a similar nature before. , The chairman (Mr B. J. Jacobs) pointed out that on previous occasions they had rtlerely stressed tho value of an adequate examination. , . ... The remit was passed, with the substitution of the words “assisted migrants for “such persons.”