FURTHER .

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1674, 26 June 1919, Page 5

FURTHER .

STRANDED NEW ZEALANDERS.

AN AMATEUR CREW.

By Cable. — Press Association. — Copyright SYDNEY, June 25.

A further meeting of the stranded New Zealanders reiterated their protests against the treatment accorded them by the New Zealand Government, also against the Government ignoring their urgent appeals for help.

The meeting accepted offers by Wirth's Circus and the Paramount Pictures to hold beneilt performances.

A number of those stranded offered to man a ship, if available. A crew was selected, and. a cablegram dispatched asking whether the New Zealand Seamen's Union objected to such procedure. ATTITUDE OF SEAMEN. (Rec. .Tunc 20, 11.35) SYDNEY, June 26. The president of the local branch of the Seamen's Union, speaking at ' a meeting of the stranded New Zealanders, guaranteed that the seamen would not obstruct their return to New Zealand. He predicted that the strike would end this week. "NO OFFICIAL INFORMATION." MINISTER DOUBTS STATEMENTS, rress Association. rri it r. WELLINGTON, June 25. | The Hon. G. AY. Buss-ell says that the Government has received no'official information in support, of the statements alleging cases of extreme distress hi SydIney among stranded New Zealanders, and ihe is inclined to think that they are part ,of propaganda being carried on. in Sydney to force the position at this end. The Government agent in Sydney had full powers to deal with any genuine case of (distress, and a cable message had been I sent to him to-day, asking whether there .was need for more funds.

On ttie advice of the Solicitor-General, the Government had determined to withdraw its previous decision as to priority of return to the Dominion of various classes who are stranded. Full, responsibility on that matter now rested with the steamship owners. Communications had been received from Australia, asking whether the Government wax prepared to allow stranded New Zealamlers to come across in overseas steamers en route to the Dominion, the Government giving a promise not to quarantine the vessels on arrival. The Minister said that it was impossible for the Public Health Department to give any such promise.