HARD LUCK.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16496, 31 July 1924, Page 9

HARD LUCK.

AN IMMIGRANT'S BLIGHT

(Special to the Herald.)

CHRISTCHURCH, this day

To bring his wife and three children 13,000 miles under prom iso of work and a house, and then to find there was neither house nor work, was the experience of an immigrant, who arrived in New Zealand within the last, few months. On Tuesday he went to the trades union secretary in search of some form of light work, and his story, which is a striking indication of the laxity of the immigration, officials in the selection of disease-free immigrants in London, was told as follows: A relative wrote to him in England, telling him that, if lie came to New Zealand he would find him work yind a, house at his farm, in the vicinity of Christchurch. The man was a discharged soldier with three years serviceto liis credit. The .relative nominated the man, and under the nominated immigrants’ scheme the man, his wife, and three children came to New Zealand. When lie arrived lie. was (old there was neither house nor job for him. He returned to Christchurch, and obtained work at his trade as a motor car painter. Only a, few months passed before lie had contracted lead poisoning, and was sent to hospital. He has now been discharged from that institution, but lie has a medical certificate which states that, he can never resume his occupation as a. paintei, and can only take light work. 'While in hospital he received compensation to the extent of 58 per cent, of iiis wages. In, tlie meantime his wife fell ill, and she, was sent to the consumption sanatorium. There being no one to .look after the children, two were sent, to the orphanage at Timaru and the other to a Christchurch institution.