ELLIS ISLAND HORRORS.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 2777, 19 October 1923, Page 2

ELLIS ISLAND HORRORS.

"GATEWAY" TO AMERICA. HERDED AMONG FILTH. IMMIGRANTS PARTLY BLAMED. "I should prefer imprisonment in Sing-Sing to incarceration on Ellis Island awaiting deportation," says Sir Auckland Geddes, the British Ambassador at Washington, in a despatch condemning the conditions existing at the United States receiving station for immigrants. Sir Auckland Geddes describes the temporary detention system as "diabolic," and adds that it took him 36 hours "to get rid of the aroma after 1 leaving the island." In the following article, a British immigrant confirms Sir Auckland Geddes in every particular, but points out some of the difficulties with which the United States officials have to contend. It may be admitted, he says, that Ellis Island, to an> decent person, is a purgatory on earth; but it would be i wrong to jump to the conclusion that this is bcause of the callousness of the United States immigration authorities. Let me outline the facts as I saw them. Conditions at Ellis Island are offensive to decent people, because to decent people they arc abnormal. To the majority of the immigrants, who are unused to soap and water, and adequate sanitation and the ordinary decencies of life they are merely normal. Most of the- immigrants are from Central Europe and Russia, and It is not necessary to wait for Ellis ißland to get something of the obnoxious odours which emanate from those pitiable, unwashed, illiterate refugees. The first step on arrival is a herding in the great wired-in cages of which so much has been made. Certainly the experience is unpleasant, but so, too, is enforced proximity with dirt at any time. In fairness to the officials it must be stated that these capres are clean enough when they receive their first batch in the morning. An hour later one sees what I&ck of cleanly instinct, orderliness, nnrt method will do. The atmosphere becomes redolent of dirty humanity^-"a smell to which one has become more or less inured aboard ship—steerage. First and second class passengers detained because of some technical flaw in their papers do not, it should be noted, suffer these hardships. They have separate quarters, which are reasonably decent, although, after the superlative comfort of a liner, somewhat austere. MEAL-TIME TRIALS. But even the first and second-class passengers must eat with the penniless immigrant in the great dining hall. And I think that, of all horrible experiences, the dining hall of Ellis Island would be hard to beat. The hall seats 800, the tables run the length of the building, which is white-tiled and well-lighted. Meals are served in shifts, for daily 2000 people have to be catered for. There is no linen, but white paper is laid over the wood of the tables; the food is good and sufficient. Here there is no; fault to be found with the system. The trouble arises from the fact that these wretched refugees never used knife and fork in their lives. They sit to table like wild animals, grab the food (including meat) in filthy fingers, eat Ilk* famished wolvaa.

It is ono of the most revolting sights imaginable. And, naturally, decent people recoil from it, and, after the ordeal is passed, say bitter things of the system. , Throughout the buildings the scheme is white-tiled walls with redtiled floors, and after the staff has been through it with hose and soda, it must look decent enough. But seen, as I sawt it, covered with a litter of garbage, banana skins, rags, orange peel, and worse, it resembles what one imagines a Bolshevik prison to be. A PEEP AT THE INFERNO. Much —but not too much —has been made of the vile smell that pervades the island buildings. This is merely an intensification of the smell aboard ship. It is no fault of the authorities, but the inevitable consequence of the dirty and unhygienic customs of peasants from parts of Europe three centuries behind the rest of the world. Beyond the main hall there is a hall devoted, to steerage women and children. I used to stand looking into that hall. Women, old and young, their heads wrapped about with shawls; children, wide-eyed and fretful; and babies sprawled about in a confusion that sugegsted a peep at the Inferno, With the sound of many tongues came the loud wailing of many disconsolate babes and the chidings of many young mothers. Pitiable? Ghastly? Yes, all that; but avoidable? Well, perhaps not so easily as some imagine. To provide sleeping acoemmodation on Ellis Island must be one of the hardest problems facing the officials. Some of the immigrants will be spending one night only here, others must be accommodated for weeks — and every day fresh quotas arrive.