UNDESIRABLES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 21 March 1925, Page 5

UNDESIRABLES.

LANDING IN NEW ZEALAND. AUCKLAND PROTEST. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Friday. A. complaint, regarding the case with which stowaways gain admission to the Dominion was made to the Minister of Justice, Sir James Parr, by a deputation from the Southern Cross League. Airs. Nie.ol said there had been cases where stowaways had been taken before local magistrates, and as the charges were dismissed they were allowed ter remain in New Zealand. Such leniency had been shown that masters of vessels were now not taking the trouble to prosecute. Mrs. Paxton said the league was asking for an anuvulinent to tlie law to make it more difficult for stowaways to remain.

The Alinister agreed that the cpiostion was of importance, and when admitted the careers of deserters and stowaways should be watched u ♦cry closely for the (list year. If the men turned out. badly the responsibility of taking them out of the country should be placed on the shipping companies which brought them. He thought' this was the law at present. As Alinister of .Justice he had to consider the question seriously, when as stated, a responsible police officer had said that some of the worst criminals reached the country in this way.

In replv to a complaint that unfit people were coming to the Dominion as assisted immigrants, the Alinister said the matter was outside his jurisdiction. Airs. Nicol asked whether the Alinister could not tighten up the jurisdiction given to magistrates. Sir .lames Parr replied that as ATlnister of Justice he could not, and would not. interfere with any magistrate.