Hungarian Athlete Coming To N.Z. Is 100,000 th Refugee

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28179, 18 January 1957, Page 12

Hungarian Athlete Coming To N.Z. Is 100,000 th Refugee

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON. January 17.

The 100,000 th Hungarian refugee for resettlement in other countries in included in a draft which has left for New Zealand by air and which is due at Auckland next week, according to advice received today by the Minister of Immigration (Mr J. R. Hanan).

This distinction goes to Tibor Banffy, a single man, aged 23. who was a member of the Hungarian International Athletic League and 3000 metre hurdle champion. He was also junior ski-ing champion of Hungary for three consecutive years. Such an accomplished young person should find plenty of scope for his talents in this country, said Mr Hanan, and all New Zealanders will be pleased to extend a special welcome to him. not only in his personal capacity but also in recognition of the magnificent achievement on the part of the Inter-governmental Committee for European Migration in arranging for the re-

settlement of 100.000 refugees in such a short time.

“To mark this important occasion I propose to welcome Mr Banffy and other members of the draft personally on their arrival,” concluded Mr Hanart. [A cable message from Vienna says that a friend of Mr Banffy’s, * also a former ski champion, who escaped from Hungary with him, is travelling with the same draft. Together they plan to start a ski school in New Zealand.]