DESTITUTE IMMIGRANTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19040, 10 June 1925, Page 11

DESTITUTE IMMIGRANTS.

BURDEN ON THE DOMINION. NEITHER FOOD NOR BLANKETS. [by telegraph.—own correspondent.] CHRISTCHUJfCH. Tuesday;. . That immigrant families are coming out to New Zealand who are'not only destitute but physically unfit an<3 that' hundreds of pounds have been spent in returning these people to their native land rather than have them remain a burden to the- Dominion, were statements made by,'soqial workers to a reporter to-day. . Many of these people have become charges on the State from the very day of their arrival in" the Dominion and there! is' abundant evidence <• that the Government's'nomination system of immigration is-being abused. Much of the poverty that exists in Christchurch to-day'is to be found,among those people, who with neither means'" noi* prospects left home in a blind hope -of success overseas. _ . - Within a few minutes' twalk, of Cathedral Square there are houses where blankets are unknown arid where sacks and newspapers alona grace the beds • these wintry nights. : • • On Saturday a poorly-dressed woman called at the home of a prominent social worker and with- tea,rs in her eyes beseeched her for food. The woman said her husband was out of work and they had six children to support, but they did not know where'the next loaf of bread was going to come from. Many cases such as this have been brought to light'of late and one social worker! this morning described the conditions prevailing in the poorer areas as appalling. A social worker in: Christchurch re-, ceived a letter the' other day which'ran.:— "Dear Mrs. Herbert: Please excuse my taking the liberty of writing to you, but urgent need is the excuse. The Rotorua is bringing out my nephew, his'wife and four children, and they will be coming to Christchurch. I have not sufficient blankets for them." The letter went on to tell of the poor position of the family and to ask : for blankets; -

"I once asked one family soon after their arrival why they did not brinn some things with them," said one social worker, "and the wife told me she did not -think they would bp necessary in New Zealand." She added that many imigrants were absolutely without anything in the nature of personal belongings outside what - they stood up in when they arrived in New Zealand. One of the many cases that came to light in Cnristchurch was that in which an old lady nominated her 'nephew,.who brought his" wife and eight children; to the Dominion with him. They had no means whatever and "became an immediate charge .on the ratepayers,- the husband -being in an unfit state of health to work. '