NEW ZEALAND'S IMMIGRATION LAWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12817, 17 March 1905, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND'S IMMIGRATION LAWS.

AN OLD MAN REJECTED. By Telegraph Press Association Copyright. Sydney, March 16. An old. man named: Innes has returned by the Waikare. Ho says he was refused admission to New Zealand. The ground of the refuSal was not stated. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION..] . Wellington, Thursday. With reference to the cable message with regard! to Innes, it appeared that the health officer at Wellington would not certify that lie was imbecile or insane, but stated that he was infirm, and as he had only 3s 6d, and did not know where his relatives were, ho was likely to become a charge upon charitable aid 1 . Acting on this the Customs authorities consulted the law officers of the Crown, and subsequently refused him permission to land unless the Union Steam Ship Company entered into a bond. The matter is considered one of con- | siderable importance. j [by TELEGRAPH.OWN' CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Thursday. The man William Innes. mentioned in a Sydney cable message as having been retused admission to New Zealand, is aged 64, and a miner from Charters Towers, Queensland. Ho arrived in Wellington-last week by the Monowai with 3s 6d in his pocket, and in reply to a question by Dr. Pollen, port health officer, stated that he felt queer in the head. Dr. Pollen made a verbal report to the Customs authorities, with the result that Innes was detained on board. In the meantime a. Union Steam Ship Company's representative had visited the man, and at the company's request Dr. Pollen visited Innes on the Thursday, and found him quite rational and better 'n every way. The doctor would not give a certificate that Innes was insane or imbecile, but, at the request of the collector of Customs, ho issued a certificate in which he stated that the old man was not very bright, and that in his opinion he was likely to become a charge on charitable aid through inablilv !.o obtan employement. The Union Steam Ship Company would not execute the bond under the Imbecile passengers Act, considering that the man was neither imbecile nor infirm. Innes was coming to Wellington to join his wife and son, but, as he had negectcd to advise them of his visit, and had left their addresses and other identification papers in Australia, and had likewise forgotten where his relatives lived, lie was quite helpless to ■md them. Inquiries were made by the collector of Customs and by the Union Steam Ship Company, but without avail.