GIRL IMMIGRANTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3084, 23 April 1913, Page 3

GIRL IMMIGRANTS.

HOUSING FACILITIES ON ARRIVAL. WELLINGTON, April 16.

A deputation from tho Young Women’s Christian Association waited on tho lion. 11. D. 801 l to-day and asked that the association should have equal rights with the Girls’ Friendly Society in the housing of giri immigrants from Britain. Dr Newman, Miss Birch (general secretary), and Mrs C. R. Atkinson spoke in support of tho request'. Dealing generally with tho representations of tho deputation, tho Minister placed before them tho circumstances leading up to the present position. Ladies all over the country, including no doubt those present, were, he said, entirely dissatisfied with the number of girl immigrants and domestic servants that were being induced to come to Now Zealand, and they desired that there should bo. a very Largo increase. At tho time iho took office there was not the - slightest necessity for any home. Girls were engaged on the ship, and long before the ship arrived. They had to stay a night occasionally, and, if longer, arrangements wore made with tho Y.W.C.A. and with other societies, but there were very few indeed requiring such accommodation. Tho records of the Labour Department showed that the girls stayed in no port for more than the nominal time, but tho present Government had declared its intention, and it would carry out that intention if possible, to largely increase the number of domestic servants arriving in tho dominion. That involved the probability of provision by tho Government at each of the four chief ports of safe accommodation and safe protection of girls until tho day they went to their row homes. Tho Government protected them on the ship by matrons in every sense qualified as trained nurses, and women capable of governing. They had the right to stay for a limited time on the ship, and then fine Government wanted them to pass under Government protection until they passed to their own homes. This was lately emphasised by the Dominions Royal Commission but thoro was the gap from the time they loft Iho matron until they arrived at their new homes. The choice lay between building what were called hostels such as they had in Canada at each port, under Government supervsion, or the taking as a place of Covcnrncnt protection of one or rnoro of ihe existing institutions. Tho Government houses, if built, would be unoccupied for a considerable portion of the year, bo another alternative must be adopted. Ho had not mado any contract with the CJiris Friendly Society. There was nothing to prevent an arrangement for payment to the Girls’ Friendly Society for accommodation provided to bo extended to the Y.W.C.A. If the Government money was given reasonable zscommo dation must bo provided under Government supervision. Ho had no intention of interfering with thq. right of any society to approach tho girls arriving, but he must bo satisfied that ifhey were in good hands.