MIGRANTS FROM EUROPE

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25932, 12 October 1949, Page 6

MIGRANTS FROM EUROPE

♦ ABOUT 800 SETTLED IN WORK REVIEW BY MINISTER (New Zealand Press Association.) + U WELLINGTON, October 11. OI the 941 Europeans, including 240 children, who had arrived in New z-ealand. under arrangement with the Internationa; Refugee Organisation, nearly 800 had been settled and not one of them had sought to evade the signed undertaking to work for two years in the employment arranged for them by the New Zealand Government. said the Minister of Immigration (Mr A. McLagan) to-day. A reassessment of the settlers’ employment aptitudes had confirmed the existence of many fine types among them and all had shown great keenness to settle down and become New Zealanders as soon as possible, continued the Minister. The placement of many of the remainder had been delayed because of camp duties, to which they had been assigned, but they would be released for employment nt an early date. The process of reorienting the settlers' minds towards farm work had been greatly assisted by week-end hospitality offered bv New Zealand farmers and thev had become keen to accept employment and accommodation on New Zealand farms. “Twenty-two families are already happily placed on farms and another six families will be taking up farm work during the next fortnight." said Mr McLagan Sawmill and Bush Jobs Twenty-nine families had been placed in sawmill and other bush jobs and two additional families would soon be going to similar work. “From widows.’ single women and elderlv persons’ groups. 118 workers have been allocs’ed to domestic work in institutions. schools and colleges Eighty-three workers from these groups have already been allocated to hospitals and 96 to various other types of essential work.” he said. Of 162 single men. 69 had gone to the New Zealarjgl Railways. 69 to forestry and bush sawmills, and 26 to other types of essential work. The remaining eight men would be leaving the reception centre as scon as they could be released. Arrangements were still to be madn for the resettlement nf 20 couples w.ifh one child each, and six married counles in the higher age group, who wpre without denpndant children. thf> Minister said. In view of the manv offer- still being received, his department would have no particular difficulty in resettling the small remainder. who would be greatly assisted bv the high renufation earned by those already at work.