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Fingerprints from the crew of the shipwrecked Clan Ranald not approved by Minister
[Newspaper article cutting, yellowed colour, centre top of page. Reads as follows:]
TAKING OF THE FINGER PRINTS.
[division line, centred]
NOT APPROVED BY THE MINISTER.
Melbourne, February 3.
The statements telegraphed from Adelaide that the Immigration Restriction Ace had necessitated the taking of the finger-prints of the wrecked lascars and the exaction of bonds from the agents of the Clan Ranald are not endorsed by the Minister of External Affairs. In the course of an interview yesterday Mr. Batchelor said: - "Immediately it was known that there were lascars amongst the survivors of the shipwreck the secretary of this department, Mr. Atlee Hunt, telegraphed to Adelaide that the men were to be given every possible facility for landing without any sort of question. We then learnt that the local officer had taken their finger-prints and requested the ship-owners to provide a bond for the return of the Asiatic, to their own country. That officer has been told that he was not asked or required to do anything of the kind in the face of the intimation sent from this office. There was no necessity to take this action in view of our express wish to afford the men every facility during their stay in the Commonwealth."
[division line. End of newspaper cutting.]
687/09.
4th Feby. [February] 1909.
Memorandum for
The Secretary Department External Affairs,
MELBOURNE. [dashed underline.]
Wreck of "Clan Ranald". [dashed underline.]
In connection with the attached paragraph which appeared in the Adelaide "Advertiser" of today, I would like to point out that on the 1st inst. [instance] I telegraphed that it was intended to obtain hand prints and apply the dictation test, which was done when the men arrived at Port Adelaide on the evening of that day.
Messrs. Darling & Bon, the agents and charterers were also written to on the same day and informed that they would be held responsible under the Immigration Restriction Act in connection with the colored [sic] survivors of the crew. No mention was made to them of any security.
When the men arrived at the wharf in the tug "Eagle" cabs were provided by the agents for the owners of the ship, and they were at the once driven to the Sailors' Home where the men were supplied with meals, tobacco, &c. [etcetera], and arrangements made for sleeping. The officers of this Department assisted in making the men as comfortable as possible before the test was applied or the prints taken.
Your telegram of the 1st inst. As follows: -
"Re 'Clan Ranald'. No necessity impose restriction
"upon members of crew – stop – Kindly keep in touch
"and advise as to their movements"
was addressed to Adelaide instead of Port Adelaide, but as it was after hours no one was in attendance at the former place and the message was found by the Sub-Collector unopened on his table the next morning when it was too late to be of any use. Several officers were on duty at Port Adelaide until late in the evening in connection with the matter.
From the newspaper paragraph it would appear that I acted contrary to your instructions, but it will be seen the above that such was not the case.
