STRANDED NEW ZEALANDERS

Otago Witness, Issue 3524, 27 September 1921, Page 21

STRANDED NEW ZEALANDERS

WORKING A PASSAGE TO LONDON. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, August 5. A number of men from New Zealand discharged from steamers in I. -ndon have been calling at the High Commissioner’s Office for financial assistance. Recently as many as seven called in one day—a decided embarrassment to the department, which is not primarily a philanthropic one. Ihe stranding of these men comes about m . tin's way. Shipping companies invariably sign on their crews for the voyage to New Zealand and back to England. A number, however, desert in the dominion, and their places have to be filled by men taken on merely for the single voyage to the Home Country. A great many men jump at these vacancies as an opportunity of getting abroad, and they make no provision whatever for their return journey, probably in the vain hope that they will easily find work in England. As a matter of fact the wages they receive would be almost enough for a return passage, but this quickly disappears in London, ami they are left in financial difficulties. The shipping companies are bound to cater for their regular creys, and are not always in a position to provide work for the return journey. Obviously (he trouble is bound to recur, but it is well to warn any men who think (he opportunity of working a passage Home is not one to lie missed, that. thea should making provision for themselves when they do arrive, for Ihe chances of getting work of any kind in England at the present, time are exceedingly few. and a desire, to (ravel the world to day without the necessary menus can only end in (rials ami difficuii ies.