N.Z. IMMIGRATION SCHEME

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25270, 23 August 1947, Page 8

N.Z. IMMIGRATION SCHEME

FIRST PARTY DUE AT AUCKLAND TODAY

CHRISTCHURCH QUOTA 24

A party of 24 single men and women from the United Kingdom, who have travelled to New Zealand under the Government’s assisted immigration scheme, will arrive at Christchurch on Tuesday morning. They are part of the first draft of the 10,000 immigrants who, it is expected, will be brought to New Zealand by 1950. All drafts will ne allocated to various centres in accordance with industrial priorities and accommodation

available. In Christchurch’s share of the total of 120 immigrants who will arrive at Auckland to-day on the Rangitata are six coalminers and timber workers for Greymouth, and six coalminers for Westport. Of the other 12, 10 women will join the staff of the mental hospital at. Sunnyside, and one domestic worker will enter a hostel. One is a timber worker.

When the party arrives at Christchurch it will split up fairly quickly to travel to the immigrants’ destinations.

Applicants under the immigration scheme are required to remain in the occupation for which they have been selected for a continuous period of two years. Officers of the immigration division of the Department of Labour and Employment will continue with personal contacts to see that the newcomers settle down. The public relations officer of the Christchurch City Council (Mr T. H. Langford) said yesterday that the expansion and development committee had not been informed of the time of arrival of the immigrants, but the committee did want to co T operate with the National Employment Service in .their reception to Christchurch, and their ultimate settlement from a social aspect. This aspect would be discussed at the conference on immigration to be held ‘on Monday, and it was probable that a committee might be formed to deal with the question. The Assistant-Director of th* National Employment Service (Mr J. Brennan) said yesterday that about 250 immigrants were due to arrive on the Atlantis. Two drafts with up to 500 in each would leave England about December.