Westward Migration May Extend To N.Z.

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30934, 15 December 1965, Page 1

Westward Migration May Extend To N.Z.

The day might not be far distant when Australia and New Zealand would be receiving migrants from the United States, said Mr E. G. Brown, the Governor of California, in Christchurch yesterday.

Mr Brown said that migration westward to California was “something terrific,” and a problem that was sorely taxing the State Government “A small but influential group headed by Mr K. McWilliams, of the liberal magazine, The Nation,’ seem to think a solution to our problem might be a continued emigration westward to Australia and New Zealand both of which, I understand, have good living standards similar to our own,” he said. MASS MIGRATION In the last 10 years California had experienced one of the greatest mass migrations in tiie western world, said Mr Brown. “In this period we have coped with settling three communities each with populations equivalent to that of New Zealand.” Mr Brown said California was a highly industrialised State. “We have more than 50 per cent of the major aerospace contracts and 25 per cent of the defence contracts. In addition we have more Nobel prize-winners in

our. State than in any other in the union.” Because of all this, competition for employment was very keen. RACIAL PROBLEMS

Asked about racial problems in California Mr Brown said there had always been a large percentage of Californian Mexicans. Negroes had also moved in from the southern states, often from farms and rural areas. He said that after service jobs were exhausted there was often nothing left for these workers to do. Although the “fire" of the Los Angeles race riots was out the causes had not been eliminated, he said. “The embers are still hot.” TOURISM AND TRADE

Mr Brown considered that Air New Zealand’s service into North America would cer. tainly help create a growth in tourism and trade which would have a reciprocal effect on both countries.

He said New Zealand would most assuredly benefit from the rate of tourist growth from the United States in the next few years. Asked how he felt about the probable prospect of meet ing the actor, Ronald Reagan, as a future contestant for the Californian governorship, Mr

Brown said: “Well, I beat Dick Nixon so I think I’ll do all right. But with these stage folk you never can tell. After all, George Murphy made it and there are a lot more personalities interested in politics.” Mr Brown was one of; 53 Americans who arrived at Christchurch airport yesterday afternoon, all of whom are guests of Air New Zealand and came to New Zealand on the first noncommercial flight of the airline's DCS from Los Angeles. SCENIC FLIGHT

Also with Mr Brown was Mr J. A. Burns, the Governor of Hawaii. Mr Burns said Hawaii was interested in the Pacific and all the countries bordering that ocean. He felt it was about time the massive tourist drift to Europe was arrested and redirected into the lands around the Pacific. “We are in the centre of things in Hawaii and we feel tourism can benefit the whole of the Pacific area to the mutual benefit of all countries."

Today the guests, aboard two DC3s—one from the National Airways Corporation and one from Mount Cook Airlines—will have a sightseeing flight over the South Island. Tomorrow they will leave for Rotorua.