Greek Family Looking For Security In N.Z.

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30901, 6 November 1965, Page 2

Greek Family Looking For Security In N.Z.

A longing for security has led members of a Greek family who have lived in Egypt all their lives to begin life anew in New Zealand.

Mr and Mrs H. Tattarakis and their 12-year-old daughter Myrto, arrived in Christchurch yesterday after six months of planning. They are being sponsored through the National Council of Churches by the Hornby Anglican parish, and a tem-

porary home has been found for them.

“I- feel very happy to be here, and have no regrets about leaving Egypt," said Mrs Tattarakis, who has a sister in New York, a brother in Montreal, and a second sister in Budapest. “We are looking for security, and that is why we have come to New Zealand.”

“Nationalism is very strong in Egypt now,” said her husband, a chemical engineer. “It is Egypt for the Egyptians, and the government prefers to import technicians from abroad than use foreigners within the country." The Tattarakis family did not adopt Egyptian nationality, and after President Nasser came to power were compelled to apply for permits to remain in the country.

“According to your value, permits were issued for one, five or 10 years,” said Mr Tattarakis. “We were privileged to get a 10-year one, but it could have been suspended when renewal was due." Offer Of Job

One of the main reasons for their decision to come to New Zealand was the offer of a position in a Christchurch firm for Mr Tattarakis, which he could not have obtained in other countries. Conditions for Egyptians, with the exception of the Army which kept Nasser in power, and foreigners, were worsening rapidly, Mr Tattarakis said. All businesses and industries were being nationalised and a socialistic state was developing. Factories were closing down through lack of raw materials which could not be obtained without foreign currency, and the people were becoming dis-

satisfied. But the younger generation still supported Nasser. “They are being thoroughly brainwashed, and have never known anything else.” University graduates were “mass produced” resulting in a lowering of standards, and gradually local people were taking over from foreign technicians. But the average Egyptian was lazy, and not creative, and the country needed the stimulus foreigners provided. N.Z. Recipes Mrs Tattarakis has no doubts or worries about settling into the New Zealand way of life. She is a keen cook, and is looking forward to trying some of the “Kiwi” recipes in a cook book she has been given. Young Myrto will finish this year at primary school, although she has already had one year of secondary at her Greek school in Alexandria. She speaks excellent Arabic, as well as Greek and French, and now has to learn English. Mrs Tattarakis worked for many years as a translator in French and English with a spinning and weaving Srm in Alexandria, and although she left home determined to spend the rest of her days as a housewife, she thinks she will be probably be lost without a job. She is prepared for the cost of living to be higher here, for housing, food, and clothing is relatively cheap in Egypt, and the wages for qualified people are good. But she says that security they are sure they will find in this country will ipore than compensate for the difference.

Pan - Pacific Officers.— Officers elected at the annual meeting of the Pan-Pacific and South-east Asia Women’s Association, Christchurch Area Group, were: President, Mrs G. W. Fairweather; vicepresidents, Mesdames W. H. Scott, D. Weststrate; secretary, Miss L. E. Coleman; treasurer. Miss B. B. Evans; executive committee, Mesdames M. Evans, J. R. Fahey, H. G. Holmes, C. D. Newton, M. Adcock, L. G. Smith, Messrs R. Gibson, I. Smith, M. Pollok, M. J. Goosens, A. Kohlap, and Misses J. Buckhurst and K. Bland.