STRANDED PASSENGERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17055, 10 January 1919, Page 5

STRANDED PASSENGERS.

RETURN FROM AUSTRALIA.

LONG DETECTION ENDED.

SOME CASES OF DISTRESS.

Fifty New Zealanders, who have been stranded in Sydney for nearly two months as a result of shipping difficulties, returned to Auckland yesterday by the Port Lyttclton. About 12 of the passengers belong to Auckland, and the others to Wellington and the South.

Of the number returning, nine were women, who, when interviewed, all ex pressed the utmost thankfulness at hav ing succeeded in reaching home at last. Several of them had been detained in Sydney since the beginning of November, and, owing to financial difficulties and domestic anxieties, had experienced a most trying and altogether unenviablo time. To add to their worries word was received by two or three that members of their family in New Zealand had been stricken with influenza, and one mother while unsuccestiuiiy endeavouring to return home received news of the death of her son. "One thing 1 would particularly like to mention is the splendid way in which the men heiped us," »aid one woman passenger. "1 do not know what we would have don* without them, for they formed a committee, and interviewed the shipping companies and authorities, and did everything in their power to help us. there were about 300 New Zealanders altogether in Sydney, and we soon became acquainted with one another through meeting at the shipping office trying to get passages. We met nearly every day, while waiting, and hoping against hope that we would soon be able to leave. 1 myself reached Sydney on November 4, intending to return by the Moeraki on November 14. We went straight into quarantine, however, and had to stay there a week, and before we were allowed out the Riverina and Niagara had left, and there was no hope of getting another boat. A very few left by the Tort ■Sydney, which reached Whakatane a little while ago, but the rest of us had to stay on." Other passengers also spoke appreciatively of the help rendered by Messrs. J. Beveridge, Andrews, and Simpson, of Wellii.gtun, who organised the New Zealanders' committee, and who were also passengers by the Port Lyttelton.

Position Creates Exasperation. Interesting accounts were given of ft meeting of 200 stranded New Zealanders held at the New Zealand Government Agent's office in Sydney on Thursday ol last week. The room was packed to suffocation, and many of those present were bordering on a state of exasperation and despair. The passages outside were also crowded with men, some of whom shouted aloud their protests against the shipping company and seamen. During the meeting one of those present asked a question regarding the Makura, which, he stated, would be leaving that afternoon. This intimation immediately created something of a sensation. " Why, the manager of th 9 Union Company told me only this morning that the Makura's departure had been indefinitely postponed," exclaime 1 one lady indignantly, " and that I coul J go off to the mountains for a week, at least!" The Makura is still in Sydn'y. It was finally arranged that som? of the passengers should leave the following day by the Port Lyttelton, and others by the troopship Durham. A iafliculty arose with regard to the latter ship, however, inasmuch as she was due to remain in Brisbane about four days before leaving for New Zealand. Some of the 50 girls and women who had secured passages were thus placed in an awkward position, having spent all their money while waiting for a vessel, and being therefore unable to meet the extra financial strain. Representatives of these passengers accordingly waited on Mr. Hay, secretary of the New South Wales Premier's Department, who gave an assurance that if any of the women needed financial help, the State would provide it. He also promised to telegraph to the Queensland Government asking that arrangements be made for housing thorn as economically as risible during their enforced stay in Brisbane.

Women Forced to Work in Sydney. The Rev. F. S. B&rtley, chaplain to the New Zealand Forces, who went to Australia in October on furlough, and has since been delayed in Sydney, was among the passengers on the Port Lyttelton. "There were undoubtedly cases of distress among New Zealanders in Sydney who were unable to get back to the Dominion," he said. ''In fact, I know of several instances in which people, in order to have ready money with which to pay their board, had to ask the Union Steamship Company to refund the money lodged for fares. In three or four cf/ses women, in order to keep themselves during the delay, had to go cut and act as charwomen in Sydney. The financial distress, however, was really the minor side of tne case. Picture the position of one woman I know of, who received news that her children in Christchurch were suffering from influenza, and only heard vaguely that they had been taken in hand by friends! Naturally she was worrying, and spent a most distressful time awaiting an opportunity to get back to New Zealand. Then there was the case of a father whose only son was ill in New Zealand and died before the father could return."

"It seems strange," said another passenger, "that there is no official place in Sydney where help could be obtained in a situation such as that in which we were placed. One would have thought that, for instance, the New Zealand Government's agent would have been in a position to advance money to New Zealandars lor cabling to the Dominion for funds, but this he said ho was unable to do. For any cablegram, such as that we sent to the Acting-Prime Minister of New Zealand, we had to semi around the hat among ourselves to make up the money. The New South Wales Government, however, was very sympathetic and, although it had no legal authority in the matter, used all its persuasive powers, both with the men and the Union Steamship Company."

Haunting the Shipping Offices. Several of the passengers, in relating their experiences, said that during the last few weeks in Sydney they were haunting the office of the Union Company at all hours of the day. '' On an average," ! said one passenger, "we paid about three [ visits a day to the Union Company. We were unable to leave the city, even to go J for a tram run into the suburbs, as we : never knew when there might be something . fresh in connection, -with ' the shipping : deadlock. We offered to pay the crew of i the Moeraki the extra amount required to I bring their wages up to the amount they were demanding£l a day—h"t. we were I unabfe to make this arrangement. Inci- ' dentally, I might mention that lots were drawn for the final eight berths on the Port Lyttelton." The passengers •on the Port Lyttelton all spealc in high terms of the treatment they received on the steamer. As the vessel was approaching Auckland yesterday an address, signed by all the passengers, and expressing appreciation of the courtesy and attention received from the officers and the ship's company, was presented to Captain Strickland. The address was presented by the Rev. F. S. Bartley, who made special reference to the stewards, who, he said, had done all that was possible for the comfort of the passengers. Captain Strickland made a suitable reply. The offer of passages by the Durham, which ie due to reach New Zealand shortly, was made by Messrs. Birt and Co., at a meeting of stranded New Zealanders in Sydney on January 2. The company offered to take 40 women and .60 men, but, as a matter of fact; 115 passengers were ultimately accommodated. They will make the trip via Brisbane, serving their meals themselves, and sleeping in hammocks. Appreciation of the help of the New' Zealand Agent, Mr. W. B. Blow, was expressed at this meeting.