PENNILESS IX LONDON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2848, 14 October 1908, Page 66

PENNILESS IX LONDON.

COLONIALS IN DIFFICULTIES. HIGH COMMISSIONER POWERLESS, (F>oic Ou» Own Cobkespondxnt.) • • LONDON, August 28. The colonials who have been giving th'a New Zealand press .their experiences of being penniless in London* have not painted the matter any too darkly. As a. matter of fact, the last thing a colonial should do is to allow himself to run. short of funds in the great Metropolis, because it is only, when he is " stony " that he will realise what it means to be away from help. The High Commissioner is at present' enjoying his summer holidays, but his lieutenant, Mr W. Kennaway, found no difficulty in confirming much that has been 6aid in New Zealand. There are, however, many difficulties in the way of the High Commissioner's .office. In the first case ' it is -only metaphorically true that-, "stranded colonials are as plentiful' in Londdn as coWWi§Btones. ;fc Persons -representing therrnselvee-as such - are legion, but '-thesel caees are so often roisrepxeeenM- ' : tion" with a vie.w- to; getting* money or that- the vComittissioiffers staff has: to be very careful. "Many appliqttnte for assistance haWi.been easily proved- "to" b& impostors; others have given more trouble, and have only been bowled out at the last minute. The great difficulty ie to test the bon« fides of tho applicants. It is practically, impossible, and the granting of relief to ono person frequently induces a stream of applicants with strikingly similar tales $0 tell. Bogging o* this description became* so bad a while ago that the officials afc the "Sigh Oommiasioner's office were forbidden to mako personal donations to feuch applicants. In one instance the office procured a pessage for an applicant and gave him. a little pocket-money. The very "next day another man came in with an exactly, similar tale. Mr Kennaway points out that the High Commissioner has no funds at his disposal for assisting stranded New Zealandors, but if they could absolutely verify the circumstances in any particular case they would end'Hivour to help. It is practically impossible to get a passage for men out to Nw Zealand, as the snipping companies only take men on for the round voyage, and they ar© very reluctant to give » pasiage to impecunious people for fenr -that they may be refused admission to the Dominion. ,