Russian Sect Being Resettled In N.Z.

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30712, 30 March 1965, Page 14

Russian Sect Being Resettled In N.Z.

Plans for the resettlement of up to 89 White Russian refugees in New Zealand were announced yesterday at the farewell to Baroness Anne Bonde, who has guided the resettlement programme of the National Council of Churches during the last year. It was a privilege, said Miss Bonde, for New Zealand to be given the ehance to help such handicapped families. The White Russian resettlement is the largest programme undertaken by the council so far. Writing to the council, the Prime Minister, (Mr Holyoake), said that over the years the churches had been a great help in the immigration field, and it was good to know that the council’s resettlement branch was firmly established and working smoothly. Mr Holyoake promised the full support of the Minister of

Immigration and his department.

The new resettlement officer for the council, the Rev. R. M. O’Grady, said the step was a significant one, representing an important humanitarian gesture by New Zealand. The refugees are members of a Russian sect known as Old Believers. The sect split in the 17th century from the Russian Orthodox Church, and now has about two million members, mostly backward rural people living in remote areas of Siberia and little known outside their own country.

The present group is part of a colony which settled in the Sinkiang province of Northern China, and in recent years has been subject to political pressures. Last year 300 of the Old Believers were able to reach Hong Kong, where the United Nations high commissioner for refugees has been caring for them.

Intervention by the World Council of Churches means all 300 will now be placed in South America, Australia and New Zealand. None speak fluent English. However, in Australia and Brazil!, where earlier groups have settled, they have proved to be frugal, industrious and able to adapt well to new circumstances. The National Council of Churches in New Zealand is negotiating to have its Old Believers settled on a family-by-family basis in the Southland area. Working through the branch of the council, a resettlement committee has begun to explore the area for suitable work opportunities, and will speak with the churches about their responsibilities in the programme. The branch already has an excellent record in the resettling of White Russian immigrants, and this was a major reason in the selection of the Southland area.