The Daily News SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 1925. DESTITUTE IMMIGRANTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 June 1925, Page 10

The Daily News SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 1925. DESTITUTE IMMIGRANTS.

Assuming there is no ‘ exaggeration in the statements made by social workers in Christchurch, as described by the local Star, there must be a powerful attraction that draws to that city destitute immigrants, as well as others who prefer living on charity to battling for work. That city has hitherto been regarded as being specially representative of prosperity, culture and respectability and possibly it is on that account it is becoming the happy hunting ground of the destitute and wasters. Evidently the innovation does not add to the -respect and esteem of those who cherish flattering ideals of what Christchurch stands for in the eyes of the rest of the Dominion, hence the inspired revelations, sensationally presented in the Christchurch Star, not merely as a chronicle, but to put the blame for- the "appalling” conditions which exist within a few minutes’ walk of the heart of the city (Cathedral Square) on the nomination system of immigration, or rather upon its abuse. As no similar state of affairs has been reported from other cities and large towns in the Dominion, it would seem that Christchurch is either unique in experience of this kind, or that the alleged destitution is not on a scale that warrants a wholesale denunciation of the nominated immigration system. The deduction to be drawn from the statements in the Star that immigrant families are coming out to New Zealand who are not only destitute, but physically unfit, and that hundreds of pounds have been spent in getting these people back to their native land, rather than have them remain -a burden to the Dominion, and that many of them have become charges on the State from the very day of their arrival in this country, is that the number of failures is very large —far larger than is generally believed. Whatever may be the extent of the alleged abuse of the nomination system, which has been regarded as a safeguard against results like those said to exist in Christchurch, the public will certainly expect 'the Government to institute a searching inquiry as to this army of failures, probe the matter carefully, and ascertain the reason for such a concentration of undesirables at the cathedral city of tire south. When actual result of those inquiries is in possession of the Government, then a decision can be arrived at that will meet the charges against the present system. It has to be remembered that in matters of this nature, there is bound to be some failures, even if when the immigrants arrive they have money to carry on with for a time, so that a system ought not to be condemned because of a few failures. When, however, such a state of affairs exists as that complained of at Christchurch, there must be exceptional reasons. Apparently some of the breadwinners of families of these immigrants are in a state of health that unfits them for work. We can hardly believe that the medical examination by the authorities in London is at fault, New Zealand doctors, with the highest qualifications, and "with characteristic love of their Dominion, perform the work most carefully and thoroughly, as we ourselves have seen. It might be represented that in the case of nominated immigrants there should be searching inquiries made in the Dominion as to the ability of the nominators to prevent the nominees becoming a charge on the State, and that no permit should be issued unless the result of those inquiries is quite satisfactory, but this would inevitably lead to the breakdpwn of

the system, because few would be found to accept the responsibility. We are satisfied that the present system, however imperfect it may be, is the one best suited to our conditions. Under it we are securing easily the finest type of immigrants leaving Britain, thanks largely to the care and discrimination exercised by the High Commissioner’s staff, who could hardly take greater interest in their work. Indeed, the quality and calibre of the immigrants are often remarked upon by the immigration authorities of the other Dominions, who cannot understand how New Zealand secures them. The explanation is that many more applicants for passages to this Dominion are received than are available, hence the Dominion can afford to pick and choose. We aie inclined, therefore, to think that the Christchurch experience is not a true index of the position. Under any system, however carefully administered, a proportion of undesirables may filter through, but the system must be judged not on such isolated eases of failures, but upon the general results, which have been entirely satisfactory, and a real benefit to the Dominion as well as to the immigrants themselves. Credit for these results must be largely given to the immigration authorities, who are performing their duties conscientiously and well.