U.S. LAWYER TO COME TO N.Z.

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28661, 11 August 1958, Page 8

U.S. LAWYER TO COME TO N.Z.

Refuge From Atom Attack (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 7 p.m.) NEW YORK, August 8. A successful New Jersey lawyer, his wife and five young children would soon leave the United States for New Zealand to escape the threat of atomic attack, the New York “Daily News” reported. The lawyer, John Perkins, aged 46, gentleman farmer and son of a former Republican Congressman, would leave his 250-acre farm near Newton, New Jersey, to practice law in a town 50 miles from Auckland. He picked New Zealand because during a war-time tour of duty on a United States tanker, it was the first land he saw after 28 days at sea. “It looked wonderful, it was wonderful, and the climate was ideal,” he said. The family would leave for New Zealand in December, the “Daily News” said. The Perkins children are Randolph, aged 11, James aged 9, March aged 7, Judith aged 4, and Thomas aged 1. Study Law Mr Perkins said that he intended to buy a farm. He would study for entry to the bar in Neu Zealand and practise law again. He explained that he had been worried for four years about the fact that his home was only 50 miles from New York—“the world’s number one atomic target.”

“We are not running away. If I felt that I was part of a team here. I would stay on and do my share, but the people don’t care “We are not giving up our American citizenship. If we can return, we will.” The realisation that Americans would continue to close their eyes to the danger of an atomic war finally made him decide to leave the country he loved and a happy, comfortable life. Mr Perkins said.