HC Deb 20 February 1894 vol 21 cc838-9
MR. JEFFREYS (Hants,) Basingstoke

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the American liner New York, which arrived at Southampton on Thursday, 1st February, landed a large number of Italian and Polish emigrants who had been refused admission to American soil on account of not having the 30 dollars each in cash as required by the law of the United States; whether he can state what has become of these destitute people: and whether many other emigrants have been lauded in England who have not been able to comply with the United States Immigration Laws?

THE PRESIDENT OK THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. MUNDELLA,) Sheffield, Brightside

The Board of Trade are informed by Messrs. Richardson, Spence & Co., the agents for the New York, that the New York did not bring back a large number of Italian and Polish aliens who had been refused admission into American soil on account of not having sufficient money. The total number brought back was eight; five out of the eight were sent back under the Contract Law on the ground that they had gone to the United States under agreement to work. The destination of the remaining three is not known, but general inquiries are being made. The numbers returned by the United States authorities were about 294 in 1893, as compared with 333 in 1892.

MR. J. LOWTHER (Kent, Thanet)

May I ask whether the maintenance of the destitute aliens who remain in the country will be chargeable upon the rates?

MR. MUNDELLA

As I said, these immigrants were sent back not because they were destitute, but under the Contract Law, and none of them are likely to become chargeable on the rates. General inquiries are being made with respect to emigrants, whether the rates are involved or not.

MR. JEFFREYS

May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman knows that the loading Hampshire journal has stated that a large number of emigrants have been refused admission to American soil, and have been sent to this country?

MR. MUNDELLA

I was aware of that statement, and directly it was published I caused inquiries to be made. If the hon. Member looks at a later issue of the paper he will find a contradiction of the statement.

MR.DARLLNG

Whether these people were destitute aliens or not, is it not a fact that they were refused admission to the United States, because they did not each of them possess 30 dollars?

MR. MUNDELLA

I have already stated that they were sent back in consequence of an infringement of the Contract Law, and not because they did not possess 30 dollars.