NEW ARRIVALS BY AIR

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 28, 12 November 1949, Page 6

NEW ARRIVALS BY AIR

INDONESIAN SERVICEMEN

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, Nov. 11. Fifty former members of the Royal Dutch Army and Navy, many of whom a few months ago were actively engaged in war in Indonesia, arrived at Whenuapai this afternoon to take up farming occupations in New Zealand. The immigrants, all single men between the ages of 22 and 24., travelled from Batavia via Australia in the Skymaster Aalsmeer, the first aircraft of the world-famous K.L.M. Royal Duch Airlines to land in New Zealand.

They were taken by bus to the Department of Labour and Employment’s industrial camp at Wailcaraka Park, Onehunga, Avhence they will be posted to farms throughout the country. Mainly men Avho Avere specially selected- for military service because of their capacity to resist the rigours of life in Indonesia, the immigrants should prove valuable recruits for New Zealand’s drive for increased production. The men will be allocated by the department, after consultation Avith Federated Farmers, to farmers Avho have made application for them. They are under an obligation to stay with their first employer for six months and to remain in the'farming industry fpr a minimum of -two years. Only a few of the neAV arrivals speak English with any degree of fluency.