THE WRITING TEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13336, 16 November 1906, Page 6

THE WRITING TEST.

AN IMMIGRANT'S DIFFICULT TASK

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

' Wellington, Thursday. German" by birth and cosmopolitan by nature, Emfl Steiner has been wandering since | his 11th year, and he now lands in New 1 Zealand, aged 36. Stoutly built, vigorous of mind and body, and possessed of an accomplishment that had so long lain dormant that only urgent need effectually revived it. The Undesirable Immigrants' Restriction Act provides that when any foreign immigrant is desirous of residing in New Zealand he shall be required to pass a stipulated written test in some European language, and . for some time it seemed that Steiner's fate would be to return to Australia, for, though he had learned to write before he left Germany, he neglected the art throughout his 25 years' wandering. When the task of ' filling in the statutory test paper (in English) was set him (says the Post), he was utterly unable to do it. though he can speak English with, facility, and as he could not comply with the law he was refused admittance to the colony. This morning, however, the German Consul (Mr. Focke) interested himself in the case, and interviewed Steiner as to his abilities. Then it was elicited that Steiner had once acquired the art of writing, and to meet the case, of an able-bodied man in every way desirable as a settler, the Collector of Customs (Mr. Johnson) selected German as the language in which the test paper should be written." Steiner has -worked as fireman and trimmer on British steamers trading from London and Liverpool to South America. He has voyaged in a stokehole through the tropics to the East Indies, cut cane in Btmdaberg, and pulled maize on the Darling Downs (Queensland), with the sun ranging from 100 to 120 degrees' in the shade, Mit it is doubtful whether he ever tackled a job so hard as that which he successfully accomplished this morning under the superintendence of Mr. Focke. He' sat in the public saloon of the s.s. Monowai from eleven to a-quarter past twelve this morning, while passengers came and went. Stewards pursued their duties, and the clang and clatter of cargo-shifting resounded from the hold near by, and at the end of that period he had put on paper the required declaration that he knew all about this colony's immigration restriction laws, that he had some money, and was in all 'wars fitted to earn more etc. etc. The declaration filled something less than a side of foolscap, and there was a regularity in the writing that drew from Mr. Focke the comment that after a. few months' practice Steiner would lie able to write an excellent hand. The Customs authorities professed themselves well satisfied with Steiner's test work and he was allowed to come ashore this afternoon without attendance. , There is not a great deal of trouble experienced in regard to the immigration restriction law, which is aimed chiefly at organised invasion, such as that winch threatened the kauri jnimfield* some time ago.