UNFIT IMMIGRANTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19906, 28 September 1926, Page 10

UNFIT IMMIGRANTS.

AN AUCKLAND COMPLAINT. OFFICIAL EXPLANATION. UTbom Odb Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON. September 2,7. “ This is a striking example of the lack of a proper medical examination at Home, said Mr Wallace, chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board, the other day when commenting on a chronic case which had arrived from England by the Corintmc. To these words Mr F. D. Thomson (Director of Immigration) takes strong except:°*Not only is the medical examination at Home sufficient,” says Mr Thomson, ’’it is severe.” He then goes on to explain: “In a recent report the High Commissioner stated he was quite satisfied every reasonable precaution was being taken to eliminate the chances of unfit persons being granted assisted passages. But he says, further, it wouia be obviously unreasonable to anticipate that amongst the thousands of assisted passengers sent out every year there should be no cases at all in which the migrants required hospital treatment during their first year in the Dominion. Recently Dr Bernard Myers, consulting physician to the New Zealand Government, stated that, as a result of a conference arranged by the High Commissioner between the principal medical officers of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, and representative of the British Medical Association. for the purpose of discussing the best method of obtaining the most complete medical inspection, a scheme was devised which was expected to eliminate the possibility of any migrant being accepted who was not in good health and fitted for life in the dominions. During the period in which this method has been followed the 2000 medical men examining for the dominions have in the main performed their duties well. It has, of course, from time to time been necessary to send back medical certificates for fuller information, and in certain cases special certificates have been obtained from experts in particular subjects such as X-ray, ophthalmoscopy, and blood examination, while m some cases further arrangements have been made for the admission of doubtful cases to a general or special hospital. If every medical examiner carried out his written instructions in every case, and examined in a thoroughly competent manner, it is probable in no instance would an immigrant embark for New Zealand who was not m good health, though it is obvious he might become ill between the medical examination and embarkation, but if not in good health at the time he should be refused by the Board of Trade Medical Officer or the ship’s doctor. . “Unfortunately, although the majority perform their duties moat competently, there have been, and are bound to be, occasional instances where the medical notes have revealed a perfunctory examination. In such instances it is usual to ask for further information, as a rule in the form of direct questions, and Dr Myers has assumed that each case so treated has remained healthy in New Zealand, since, during the 12 years he has been medical officer to the Now Zealand Government, not one has been taken exception to. In dealing with such a case as the present there must be absolute justice, and we must assure ourselves that the disease existed in clinically discoverable form when the migrant was examined. Now all certificates are sent to Dr Myers where there appears to be any abnormality what-