UNDESIRABLE IMMIGRANTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18448, 9 January 1922, Page 6

UNDESIRABLE IMMIGRANTS

CASES OF TUBERCULOSIS. MEDICAL EXAMINATION IN ENGLAND. (Fbou Otjr Own Correspondent.) LONDON, November 18. -In the New Zealand Herald of September 29 there appears a Press Association message from Christchurch statins' that at &-meeting of the North Canterbury Hospital Board a letter wa-s received from Dx Blackmore, calling attention to the 1 fact that, immigrants were arriving from Dotkloh suffering froan tuberculosis. The message went on to say that the Undersecretary of Immigration reported that in only one of the cases complained of had the person come to INcw Zealand as an, assisted immigrant. This person, a woman, had been in possession of a medical certificate, issued in London, say ing her health was satisfactory. It may be here mentioned that the report of the Hospital Board meeting which appeared in the Press, Christchurch, does not refer to this matter. EXTREME CARE TAKEN IN LONDON. In view of these complaints it may be useful, to record the medical procedure with regard to passengers bound from this country to New Zealand. ' So far as assisted inntri grants are concerned there seems very little likelihood of people suffering from tuberculosis being permitted to embark on any of the outgoing steamers. Before they are passed by the High Commissioner it is necessary for them to obtain a medical certificate showing a clean bill of health. In addition, under the laws of this country it is necessary for.every emigrant travelling third class to be examined by a medical -officer of the Board of Health. As a still further precaution, there is the examination by, the ship’s doctor. Thus it would seem a difficult matter for anyone to slip through this triple examination, and so fer as the High Omirmasionor’s office is concerned every possible precaution is taken. When one comes to first and “second class passengers, however, it is a very different matter. The law does not compel these passengers to be examined by the Board of Health officers. Every passenger, however, has to provide the shipping companies with a declaration of health, and if there is any doubt in the matter a medical examination is required It would be easy, however, for one of these passengers to make a false declaration. First and second class passengers are not necessarily examined by the ship’s doctor immediately they go on board, as there is no compulsion for this course to be followed. Hence it will be seen that in the case- of first and second class travellers the onus of finding out whether they ore undesirable settlers falls on the medical authorities in the port of disembarkation in New Zealand.