75 New Australians To Settle In N.Z.

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30940, 22 December 1965, Page 1

75 New Australians To Settle In N.Z.

The managing director of Peak Time Office Sei-vices (Mr A. Simmons) said yesterday he had "positively lined up 75 skilled workers” in Melbourne to come to New Zealand, most of them to Canterbury.

Mr Simmons recently visited Melbourne to investigate recruitment possibilities because of Canterbury’s shortage of skilled labour. Most of those who wanted to come to New Zealand were migrants from Britain, Germany or Hungary, who had spent some years in Australia but had not been able to settle, he said. Many were married people, who already had booked passages to return to England. “They reasoned it cost less to go to New, Zealand than to return to Britain," said Mr Simmons. “Most work overtime in Australia to try to keep up with the Joneses. “Most of the tradesmen have a wage between £26 and £2B a week.

“They work anything between 12 and 20 hours’ overtime a week to get this. They are not interested in doing it.” The 75 skilled workers in Melbourne who wanted to come to New Zealand had trade certificates. His employment agency could place all 75. The first party was expected to arrive in Christchurch before the end of January. Ail would be in New Zealand by March. Mr Simmons said his agency bad clients from Hornby to Lyttelton who would take workers skilled in the textile,

plastic, printing, heavy and light engineering and automotive industries. Many of the companies were prepared to give full or part sponsorship. “My total Inquiries by telephone calls, after putting two display ads in a Melbourne newspaper, were 300." said Mr Simmons. “I interviewed 100 Moot were interested to speak directly with someone concerned or familiar with New Zealand conditions. “Quite a number brought their wives, who wanted te know about New Zealand schooling, market prices, clothing, housing and suchlike."

Many wanted to leave Melbourne because of the excessively hot summers experienced there, bo said. But there were others to whom the New Zealand way of lite appealed. They were attracted by South island scenery, conditions and social amenities.