IMMIGRANTS' ARRIVAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17652, 13 December 1920, Page 6

IMMIGRANTS' ARRIVAL.

EX-SOLDIERS' EXPERIENCE.

THE HOUSING DIFFICULTY.

NO SCARCITY OF WORK.

A meeting of ex-Imperial soldiers, who had come to New Zealand under the Imperial Government's emigration scheme, was held at the Soldiers' Club yesterday afternoon to discuss the complaints which had been made regarding their reception on landing in the Dominion. About 25 were present, the meeting being presided over by Mr. E. F. Andrews, secretary of the Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association.

The general experience of those at the meeting was that information in regard to the chances of obtaining land was given definitely and accurately at the High ■Commissioner's Office, in London. They were told that the New Zealand soldiers must first be provided for, and that until their claims were met there would be no opportunity for ex-Imperial soldiers to obtain land from the Government. Complaint was made, however, regarding what was told them concerning rents and housing. Several said they had been given a pamphlet, stating that a five-roomed house could bo had in New Zealand for 16s a week. They also said the statements regarding the prices of food and other necessaries were not accurate. One man, recently arrived, said there was a rumour about when he left that men whose passages were paid by the Imperial Government were required, on arrival, to work for bo many months on the land, and payback their passage monev. With regard to the time of arrival in New Zealand, a number of men stated definitely that the boats by which they came were not met in Auckland, and that they had had difficulty in finding accommodation. The names of seven, the time of arriving ranging from May, 1920, up to the last trip of the Maheno, were handed in. In this respect the general experience was that it was accommodation, and not employment, which presented the problem. One man, who landed from the Maheno last Tuesday, said ho had found employment within half an hour of arrival, and started work next morning. The general concensus of opinion was that no new arrival really desiring employment need remain idle. It was decided that representations should be made to the Government urging that further efforts should be made to ensure accommodation on reasonable terms to those arriving- at Auckland. It was suggested that the hutments at the Narrow Neck camp might be utilised, so that the new arrivals mightbe accommodated until they had had time to look about and make arrangements for themselves. It was also decided to inquire into the feasibility of sending information to ex-service men contemplating coming to New Zealand, putting the present conditions in the country more accurately than it was maintained the literature at the High Commissioner's Office did.

In the matter of meeting boats, it was decided to form a. committee of five exImperial so'diers. and three members of the Returned Soldiers' Association to meet all overseas boats and endeavour to ass-st the ex-service men arriving. It was decided to suggest working in conjunction with the Government officials in the matter, and even where no active assistance was needed, to offer a welcome on behalf of the joint orsr-inisation. The meeting elected Messrs. M. Goodman. C E- Clinknrd. J. J. Pilkington, W. Bailey, and A. C. Jacob to represent the exImperial soldiers.