། ཟ། ཟ། ། །།
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
19
Reference :-
C.O. 885
24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
The MAGISTRATE :
26
You would not put yourself in the same rank as one of those cutters, would you?
The WITNESS : No.
The MAGISTRATE: You must take the average. A cutter would get a better wage than a finisher ?—Yes.
The MAGISTRATE: I do not think it will assist me. What is obvious is that he could not get work.
Cross-examined by Mr. RAEburn.
The Labour Bureau, as far as you could see, were trying to get you work?--I do not know. I went every morning.
As far as you could see?--Yes.
You know they asked the British Consul to postpone your departure for some time? Yes.
So as to give them a further chance ?--Yes.
That looked as if they were taking some interest in you, did it not? Yes.
It was the British Consul who sent you men home, was it not?--Yes.
He took the matter in his own hands and packed you off to England?—I cannot say about that.
Would you have come home but for the British Consul?
The MAGISTRATE: He could not, I suppose? No, I could not walk.
Mr. RAEBURN : Would you, if you had had your own way, have stayed a little longer on the chance of getting work? No, I had been all over it.
A fortnight had been enough for you?—Yes.
Did you expect to walk into a tailor's situation straight away as soon as you got out?-I can go to Preston to-morrow and start work straight off.
Why did you ever leave Preston ?—I thought it would be better there when I read this work.
Were you going to be a cutter, or finisher, or waistcoat maker or a trouser maker, or a journeyman ?-A journeyman.
You spoke about a farm and said you were willing to work on a farm. Have you ever had any experience of farming?—Yes.
When?At home, gardening.
Do they garden on farms in Preston ?--I think so; they grow potatoes and that kind of thing.
In a back garden ?—Yes.
Re-examined by Mr. CoмYNs Carr.
It is suggested to you that the British Consul sent you home against your will as I understand. Did you ask to be sent home some days before you actually were?—
Yes.
Some time before you actually started?—Yes.
Was it at the request of the British Consul and the Immigration Authorities that waited the extra week?—Yes.
were asked if they tried to find work for you. Before you went to the British Consul, what were you told at the Labour Bureau ?
Mr. RAEBURN: I object. He was asked, as far as he knew, were they trying to find work, and he said yes.
Mr. COмYNS CARR: I think that entitles me to know what happened before he applied to the British Consul.
The MAGISTRATE : Yes.
Mr. CoмYNS CARR: You applied for work, you told me, in the first place as a tailor?—Yes.
Did they say whether they could find you any?—No, they only told me to look in the advertisements. They said there was nothing for Englishmen much there.
With regard to farm work, did they say whether they were sending Englishmen
to the farms? They said they did not send Englishmen to the farms.
You told me you went each day to the Labour Bureau ?---Yes.
Was anything said as to anyone coming to offer you work ?-One morning I was told to come the next morning. There was a man coming to offer us work.
Mr. RAEBURN: I am sorry to take objections, but I cannot cross-examine these men who are out in the Argentine as to what was said. This is prosecution and this is an attempt to get in things which I cannot deal with.
27
it. other way to prove
Mr. COмYNS CARR: It is difficult to deal with it in any The MAGISTRATE: Where did you get your ticket; was it through the defendant Hetherington ?—Yes, through Mr. Hetherington.
Mr. COMYNS CARR: I should have put in the ticket with each of these men, but
I thought my friend admitted it except with regard to the one man.
Mr. RAEBURN: Yes.
Mr. GEORGE HUTCHINSON, Sworn. Examined by Mr. Comyns Carr.
Where do you live?-99, Lothian Road, Edinburgh. What are you!--Cooper.
Where have you been employed as a cooper before you went to the Argentine ?—
In Sydney, New South Wales.
14
In the beginning of September last, were you in Edinburgh ?—Yes. There did you see an advertisement in the "News of the World "?—No, in the "Daily Sketch."
Buenos Ayres. £7; free board on arrival (5 days), and work found by State Labour Bureau." (Same handed). Was there a friend of yours with you, a Mr. Ritchie? Yes.
Was he with you when you saw the advertisement?—Yes.
Did you write to the address, Hetherington's?—Yes.
Does my friend produce this letter? (To the witness.) What did you ask in
What did you receive from them?---
the letter? I just asked about this thing and the £7 passage to Buenos Ayres.
You asked for further particulars ?—Yes. Then I will not trouble about the letter. These pamphlets which have been produced.
Which of them did you get I got all these. Did you read them?—I did.
f
After reading them did you believe the Argentine State Labour Bureau found work for all?—Yes.
Did you then send to Hetherington the passage money?Yes, and sent the deposit first.
How much did you send him in the first instance?-£2; £1 for myself and £1
for Mr. Ritchie.
Did you subsequently send the other £6 each for yourself and Mr. Ritchie ?—Yes. Did you ever see Mr. Hetherington ?—No.
Did both you and Mr. Ritchie embark on the " Zeelandia" on the 18th Septem- ber?--Yes.
On arrival did you call repeatedly at the Labour Bureau?--Yes.
Did you remain the whole 21 days with the others?--Yes.
Did you come back with them in the same way?—Yes.
In addition to applying to the Labour Bureau, did you search for work your- self?—I did.
Did you find a cooperage firm there?—Yes.
Did you get work there?—No.
Do you know why not?-Owing to the language. I could not make myself understood.
Will you look at the white pamphlet. Do you notice a statement there with regard to being sent to any place that you selected. Look at the bottom of page 11: "Article 14. Every emigrant who can adequately prove his good behaviour and fitness for any industry, art, or useful craft shall be entitled to the following "benefits on arrival in the country." Then follow 1 and 2: "Board and lodging
44
at State expense for the time appointed by articles 45, 46, and 47. (2) Employ- "ment in the work or industries existing in the country to which he wishes to devote himself. (3) Transportation at the expense of the State to any part of the Republic "where he may wish to settle or make his home." Did you, having failed to find work in Buenos Ayres demand to be sent at the expense of the State to Mendoza?---- Yes.
Did they send you?-No, they refused to give me a ticket. They said they did not send Englishmen to Mendoza.
875
After that, did you see the British Consul?—I did.
Ultimately, did they find you any employment whatever?-No.
Did you come back on the " Alcala "?—Yes.
D 2
28