REFUGEE REPATRIATION

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1931, Page 7

REFUGEE REPATRIATION

CONTROL BY COMMITTEES

COMPREHENSIVE REGULATIONS

GUARDING EARTHQUAKE AREA

By Telegraph.—Press Association.

Napier, Last Night. The general committees at Hastings and Napier have agreed upon arrangements to control the return of refugees to the earthquake area along the following lines: Any refugee desiring to return must communicate with the committee in the town to -which the refugee wishes to return. In such communication the refugee should state when he (or she) proposes to return, whether he (or she) proposes to live in the house occupied by the refugee prior to the earthquake, and if not how the refugee will be accommodated after his (or her) return. The refugee in communication with the central committee should indicate clearly an address to which the necessary permit should be sent. Permits will be sent only to the address given in each case, and the responsibility is therefore on the refugee to see that a proper address is given. The committee on receiving a request from a refugee for permission to return will consider it, and if the circumstances seem to the committee to justify the refugee’s return the necessary permit will be issued. One of the principal factors that will be taken into consideration by the committee in determining this matter will be the fitness of the accommodation proposed to be used by the refugee, particularly from a sanitary point of view. Other conditions governing the welfare of the refugee, such as provision for the refugee’s sustenance, will also be taken into consideration.

Refugees to whom permits are issued in pursuance of this arrangement may exchange the permits for rail tickets at the railway station from which they will journey, and these tickets will be issued to them free of charge. The permit will be collected from the refugee by the railway officer who issues the ticket, and the ticket will thereafter serve as the refugee’s authority to enter the area. The tickets will be collected by the railway guards prior to the refugees reaching their final destinTRANSPORT ARRANGEMENTS Persons who obtain permits and who wish to return otherwise than by rail will require to make their own arrangements regarding transport. The committees desire to make it clear that free transport applies only to travel by rail. In the case of refugees returning otherwise than on the railway they will require to carry their permits with them and produce them when demanded. The committees have made arrangements for the roads to be picketed, and all road vehicles will be stopped and persons thereon will require to produce their permits. Any refugee not able to do this will not be allowed to enter the earthquake area. It must be clearly understood that general permits held by such persons as service-car drivers do not cover the occupants of the cars. Each occupant must be covered by a permit expressly applicable to him. (or her). In the case of parents and/or families travelling together one permit will be issued to a parent for the whole party, but when making application for permits parents should state clearly to the committee full particulars of the party for whom a.permit is desired, and these particulars will be as shown' on the permit and also on any rail ticket issued in exchange therefor. Persons not named on the permit or rail ticket, as the case may be, will not be held to fie covered by a permit and may be.refused admission to the area accordingly. The committees desire to make it clear that these arrangements have been made in the interest of the refugees themselves and of the community in general in the affected area, and the co-operation of refugees and others is earnestly asked in the direction of strict adherence to these arrangements. As regards persons other than refugees the position is that all road vehicles are being stopped and the occupants are being checked as to their reasons for wishing to enter the earthquake area. Officers are also patrolling the trains. If the examining officers are not satisfied that a person .should be allowed to enter the area such persons may be refused admission. Steps will be taken to prevent people who may be a burden on the relief organisations from visiting the area, and action will be particularly taken to prevent the influx of unemployed into the earthquake districts.