CO885-(23-24) — Page 542

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

CPC.O. 885

24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

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£6

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Did you notice the passage in that white book in which it is stated that if they cannot find you work in your own employment they will find you other temporary work!-Yes.

Were you willing to accept other work until you could find work in your employ- ment?—Yes.

Did they find you work either in your own employment, or in any other employ- ment ?--None whatever.

Did you also on your own account apply for work in and about the city? Yes. That is to say, independently of the Labour Bureau?—Yes.

To whom?-To several dentists, and I was unsuccessful.

What did you find with regard to the language?—It was essential that you speak the language.

I did.

After you had been there some time did you apply to the British Consul?—Yes. Did make a complaint to him with regard to the failure to find work?—Yes.

you

Did you repeat that on several occasions, going several times to the British Consul? Yes.

Will you look at that document. Is that an advertisement which you caused to be inserted in a local paper (handed)?—Yes, that was on our behalf.

By whom was it inserted?—I cannot say exactly who inserted it. The MAGISTRATE: Did you give orders for it to be inserted?—No.

Mr. COMYNs Carr: What did you have to do with it. How did you come to know it had been inserted?-It was an advertisement which we saw in a paper; it was shown to us.

By whom?-By one of the people in the Emigration Hotel. He showed it to us and said, Here is an advertisement in your behalf," as I took it to be.

I am afraid I must object to this.

Mr. RAEBURN :

Mr. COмYNS CARR: It is rather in your favour so far, because it shows they were trying to get them work. I have a translation.

Mr. RAEBURN: I must object until I see the advertisement.

Mr. COMYNS CARR: Is it in Spanish?

The WITNESS : Yes. (Handed to Mr. Raeburn.)

Mr. RAEBURN: I will not object to it.

Mr. COMYNS CARR: In response to this advertisement was any employment produced for you?-No.

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Were ultimately sent home by the British Consul?—Yes.

you

Cross-examined by Mr. RAEBURN.

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M

May I refer to the translation my friend has referred to. It is a copy of the advertisement in the "Buenos Ayres Standard in Spanish: Ten English emigrants, lately arrived in this country and of the following professions, offer "their services to the public:-Dentist, drover, butcher, turner, miner, cartwright, commercial clerk, telegraphic engineer, boy or junior clerk, and another acquainted with cattle-raising business. If they cannot get what they require they will accept แ any other employment suitable to their abilities. Those wishing to employ them should apply to the emigration office for information and employment, Darsena " Norte." It appears to be the Labour Bureau that inserted that advertisement. Were you in employment at the time you decided to go and see Mr. Hetherington about going out to Buenos Ayres?—Yes.

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As a dentist ?—Yes, on my own behalf.

Were you a registered dentist?—No, advertising.

How long had you been carrying on business as a dentist ?--I had been three years in my own place.

Have you always been brought up to that profession, or have you had any other professional business?-No, since I left school.

What had decided you to go out to a new country?-I was not able to save on what I was earning after I paid expenses, and I thought I would like to better myself.

Had you heard anything about the Argentine before you saw the advertisements in the "Daily Chronicle "?-No.

Was Mr. Wright a friend of yours?—Yes.

Had you and Wright discussed the question of going to the Argentine or some- where abroad together?-I asked Mr. Wright about the beginning of September whether he had seen the advertisement, and he said he had seen it previously.

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Had you and Mr. Wright come from the same place?—No. Had he been a friend of yours for long?--Yes, some time.

And the beginning of September was the first time you mentioned this question of going out to the Argentine to him?--Yes.

By a very peculiar coincidence you had apparently both seen similar advertise- ments?--Yes.

When you went to Mr. Hetherington, all he did, I understand, was to give you a bundle of these pamphlets which you have shown us?-I asked him about the £7 passage to Buenos Ayres, and he said the accommodation and the food were good, and he said work would be found by the immigration authorities.

Did

tell you that in words?—Yes.

But you had seen the advertisements ?—Yes.

Do you say he repeated that in words?--Yes.

That is not what Mr. Wright told us.

Mr. COмYNS Carr : This witness is speaking of the clerk.

Mr. RAEBURN : I asked you about Mr. Hetherington.--I did not see Mr. Hetherington.

Mr. Wright told us he went once. The first time was when he went with you. Mr. COMYNS CARR: Yes, and he saw the clerk.

Mr. RAEBURN:

You did not go on the second occasion?-No, I only went once. You never saw Mr. Hetherington ?-No, I do not recognise this gentleman. Was the clerk a boy --No, rather elderly.

Did he tell you whether he had been in the Argentine?-He did not say. When he told you the food was good did you ask him how he knew?--I asked him the fare to Buenos Ayres, and he told me the food and accommodation were good. That does not seem an answer to talk about food and accommodation. Did you ask about that?—Yes.

his reply.

What did you ask him?—I asked about the fare to Buenos Ayres, and that was That does not seem quite an answer to the question, does it?—That is the answer I received.

Is it true he said anything about food and accommodation ?—Yes.

Do you think he knew anything about the food and accommodation?—I could not say.

Did you trust to his statement that the food and accommodation were good?— Yes.

A clerk in Mr. Hetherington's office?-I do not know whether he was a clerk or assistant; I could not say.

I

suppose you took these pamphlets home and read them carefully?—I just went through them in the office. I saw the paragraph that work would be found.

Did you have the curiosity to read any other part of the white pamphlet besides the one which told you work was to be found?—I read about on landing that luggage would be conveyed to the hotel, and work would be found at the Labour Bureau.

You were going out to find work?—Yes.

your

Did you read anything about wages and the cost of living?—Yes. "Wages are higher than in England, food is cheap, clothing and house rent are "dearer than here.' Did you read that?—Yes.

Did you read a little paragraph headed “ Employment "?—No, I cannot say that

I did.

You were going out to find employment ?—I read the paragraph where it said that work would be found on arrival.

Yes, I know you read that. I am asking you about the other things. Will you look at page 7. This is where you are told about the important question of wages, and how much you can get. Do you see page 7?—Yes, I did not read that.

Did you read anything on page 8?--Yes, I read the luggage was admitted free. Was your eye caught by the first words on page 8: "The best chances of employ- "ment "?--No.

Would you look at it now and see what the pamphlet would have told you if you had read it: "The best chances of employment are, of course, for those who can

speak some Spanish." Stopping there vou found that was true?—Yes.

"And are farmers, dairymen or stockmen of practical experience "?—Yes. You were not one of those, but a dentist: "-but mechanics are in fair demand. You were not a mechanic or in the especially for building and the allied trades.'

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