CONDITIONS ON IMMIGRANT VESSELS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7347, 27 January 1911, Page 8

CONDITIONS ON IMMIGRANT VESSELS

(To the Editor "N.Z. Times.") Sir,—l was somewhat amused, as, no doubt, were many others, to notice in your columns to-day rather lenpthy "explanations” with regard to what takes place on the immigrant liners to this country. The fact of the matter is that things are not by any means right on the immigrant liners to this or any other of the colonies, and at the present tima a great outcry is being raised at Home on the subject with respect to the Canadian boats. I have travelled to New Zealand third-class on a number of occasions, and all I can say is that it is not the " loose women ” who are to blame, and it is unfair and cowardly to insinuate that there are such, and that they are the cause of the trouble. What one sees on the immigrant liners is the first nasty shock any decent man or woman gets -on leaving England., The woman hunt ” seems to be a wellestablished institution amongst both the male passengers and crew, and these boats have been very aptly described as “ Floating Hells.” Of course, the officers see nothing. It is not necessary that they should. From a dividend-paying point of view, it does not very much matter about the poor immigrant, especially if that immigrant happens to he an, unprotected woman. Personally if I had a .female relative coming to New Zealand I would not allpw lief to travel third-class unprotected it X could help it. Of course, the Labour officials know nothing of what goes on. How should they? On these immigrant liners, so far as the single men and women are concerned, the sexes should bo separated, and the strictest supervision should ba exercised, especially over members of the. crew.—l am. etc., PASSBNGEE. January 20.