WOMEN IMMIGRANTS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144050, 20 March 1913, Page 3

WOMEN IMMIGRANTS.

MINISTERIAL EXPLANATION. Per Press'Association. WELLINGTON, March 19. The Hon. H. D. Bell, commenting on the announcement that Miss Bremner, officer in charge of the women’s branch of the Labour Department was forbidden to go on board incoming liners in future, said that it was a fact. As Minister of Immigration, ho had directed that'Mias Bremner should not again attend’the ships on their arrival to interview immigrants. "Miss Bremner is an officer of the Department of Labour, and her position has not been affected, nor has her salary been affected. Her statements before the _ commission were mostly matters of opinion, and not facts within her own knowledge. As it appeared from her own statements that she hod neither been able to obtain opinions from girls arriving as to their employment, nor to keep in touch with them afterwards, there was no object to be gained in her meeting them. “The statements made to the commission affected not myself nor the present Government,” paid Mr. Bell, "hut past Governments, because, on the establishment of the Department of Immigration, alterations had been made which obviated her comments. Bui it is only fair to past Governments and to female immigrants who have arrived, that I should say that the result of my inquiries has led me to an entirely different conclusion from that to which Miss Bremner’s statements tend. I am satisfied that female immigrants selected by the High Commissioner, and who were under the care of the New Zealand Government during the age, have been well conducted and entirely suitable immigrants.”