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"The general health of Alien Immigrants was shown to be fairly good, and
"the number of cases of infectious disease introduced by them were not
"numerous.
"It would be incorrect to say that much infectious disease had come into
"the country by these people.
"In many cases the condition of the passengers, on arrival, with regard to
"cleanliness, was very deficient; they were more or less dirty and generally
"verminous both in their bodies and clothing.
"The Commissioners recommended:—
"(1) That the immigration of certain classes of Aliens into this
"country be subjected to State control and regulation to the extent
"hereinafter mentioned.
"(2) That a Department of Immigration be established, either in con"nection
with the Board of Trade and Local Government Board or of
"an independent character.
"(3) That improved methods be employed to secure correct statistical
"returns relating to Alien Immigration. That for this purpose the Act
"of William IV., cap. 11, be repealed, and power given by statute to the
"Board of Trade to make provision by regulations for obtaining from
"shipowners returns of the numbers and nationalities of all Aliens
"entering or departing from the United Kingdom, and such farther
"information as may be thought desirable, These regulations to apply
"to all or any specified ports, and to be subject to such conditions or
"modifications as may appear expedient.
"(4) That legislative power be obtained for the purpose of carrying
"out the following suggestions:—
"(a) The Immigration Department to have the power of making
"and enforcing orders and regulations which may be made applicable
"to immigration generally, or to vessels arriving at or from certain
"ports, or to certain classes of immigrants.
"(b) That a sufficient staff of officers be appointed by the Immi"gration
Department to carry into effect the provisions of this Act,
"and the orders and regulations made under it.
"(c) Power shall be conferred upon such officers to make such
"inquiry as may be possible from the immigrants upon their arrival
"as to their character and condition, and if such officer shall have
"reason to think that any immigrant comes within any of the classes
"mentioned as ' undesirables,' viz., criminals, idiots, lunatics, prosti"tutes,
persons of notoriously bad character, or likely to become a
"charge upon the public funds, he shall report the case, with such
"particulars as he can give, to the Immigration Department.