MISS BREMNER AND THE BOATS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3784, 20 March 1913, Page 5

MISS BREMNER AND THE BOATS.

STATEMENT BY HON. MR. BELL

[PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM] WELLINGTON, Mar. 19

Hon. H. D. Bell, commenting on the announcement that Miss Brernner officer in charge over the Women's. Branch of the Labor Department, was forbidden to go on-board incoming liners in future, said it was a fact that ns Minister for Emigration he had directed- that Miss Bremner should not again attend on ships on their arrival to interview emigrants. Miss Bremner was an officer of the Labor Department, 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 in her own statements that she had 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 the giTls. The statements contained in her evidence before the Commission affected neither fheAlinister nor the present Government, because on bis appointment an alteration had been made which obviated her comments, but it was only fair to past Governments and to female immigrants wdio have arrived that he should. say that the result of his inquiries has led to entirely different conclusions from that to which Miss Bremner’s statement tended. He was satisfied that female immigrants selected by the High Commissioner, and who were under the care of the New Zealand Government during the passage, bad been -well-conducted and entirely suitable immigrants.