QuestionnaireMintrom

Interview with John Mintrom
Emigrant passenger by the ship Cardigan Castle to Lyttelton in 1873

In the 1870's, in order to promote immigration and to gauge the effects of increased advertising in the Home Country, the Colonial Government undertook a number of interviews with arriving immigrants. A number of set questions were asked and the responses to these were recorded by immigration officers throughout the country. The questions explored the reasons for persons deciding to emigrate, the ease with which this occurred, their treatment during the journey and their recommendations for the future promotion of New Zealand as an emigrant destination. They make for interesting reading.

The following are the responses of John Mintrom who travelled to Canterbury with his wife and nine children (two of whome were in single accommodation).

Questions John's Responses
What is your name and condition -
(ie married or single)		 John Mintrom - Brickmaker - married - 9 children.
                                               
Where do you come from. Jersey, Channel Islands
                                               
What first induced you to think of New Zealand for emigration. If advertisements state in what paper. If local Agent state name and address if possible. I saw a New Zealand paper with account of wages etc there and the demand for my trade.
                                               
When you made up your mind what steps did you take. I applied to Dr Garrick, local Agent at St Hilliers, Jersey. He has lived for several years in New Zealand and gave me every information about the Colony and the steps necessary to take to obtain a passage.
                                               
Did you pay your own passage to the port of departure. I paid my way.
                                               
Had you any communication in London with the Agent General or his office. No
                                               
Were you detained at the port waiting for the ship and did you receive maintenance money and how much. There is no difficulty in the way of any Jersey people obtaining passages if they are willing to come. Dr Garrick makes everything easy. The dread of the voyage stops a great many from coming. I shall write
describing our treatment on the voyage. It was much better than I expected.
                                               
Have you any remarks to make with regards to the promotion of emigration at home. There is no difficulty in the way of any Jersey people obtaining passages if they are willing to come. Dr Garrick makes everything easy. The dread of the voyage stops a great many from coming. I shall write
describing our treatment on the voyage. It was much better than I expected.
                                               
Immigration Office                                   J E March
            Christchurch 30 Nov. 1873                                            Immigration Officer
                                         

Copyright Denise & Peter 2001

Reference:
Archives New Zealand IM2/1 Questionnaires