ALONE IN LONDON.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2329, 23 October 1908, Page 5

ALONE IN LONDON.

DESTIT DTE COLONIALS

The colonials wliO'iliavo ‘been v giving the New 'Zealand. Press their experiences of being penniless tin London (says .the Home correspondent of a contemporary) have not painted the matter any too darkly. As a matter of fact, the last- thing 'a colonial should do is to- allow himself to run abort of funds in the great Metropolis, because lit- is only when he is “stony” 'that he wall realise what lit means to he away .from help. The High Commissioner is at present enjoying lvis summer holidays, hut his lieutenant, Mr W. Kemiaway, found no difficulty in. confirming much that has been said dn New Zealand, There are, however, many difficulties in the way of the High Commissioner’.':; office. J.n the first case it is only metaphorically true that “stranded colonials are as plentiful in London as cobblestones.” ..Persons representing themselves as such -are legion, but tlieso cases arc so often iimisrepresented with ia' view to getting money, or assistance that the Commissioner’s staff has to be very careful. Many applicants for assistance' have- ibeen easily proved to'be imposters; others have given more trouble and have only been howled out lat the,last minute. The great difficulty is to test the bona fides of the applicants. It as practically impossible, and the granting of relief to one person frequently induces a stream of applicants with strikingly similar tales to tell. ißegging of this description became so had a while ago that the officials 'at the High Commissioner’s Offico were forbidden to make personal donations to such applicants. In one instance the office procured a passage for an applicant and gavo him a little pocket-money. The very next day another man came in with an exactly similar talc. iMr Kcmui■way points out that the High 'Commissioner has no funds at .bis disposal for assisting stranded New Zealanders. hut .if they could absolutely verify the circumstances in any particular case they would endeavor to help'. It is practically impossible to get a passage for men out to New Zealand, as the shipping -companies only take men on for the round voy- ' age, and they aro very reluctant to give a passage to impecunious peopje, for fear tint they, may bo refused | adwissipu the Popjiniw,