Big increase in number off to Aust.

Press, 30 August 1977, Page 1

Big increase in number off to Aust.

The number of New Zealanders going to Australia has increased by about 20 per cent on the same time last year, according to Christchurch freight-removal companies and the Australian Con-sulate-General. The Consul-General in Christchurch (Mr J. Wain) said tnat there has been a noticeable increase in the last two months in the number of people inquiring about moving to Australia. No figures were kept of the number of people who moved to Australia because New Zealanders could travel there freely but up to 20 persons a week visited the consulate to get information and another 20 made telephone inquiries. Half of those who sought information were skilled workers. The consulate gave them information about the availability of jobs. The removals manager

of Brambles International, Ltd, (Mr D. Wilcox) said that the number of people leaving the country was up by about 20 per cent on last year. Most of those leaving were going to Australia. The airfreight manager of the company (Mr B. Calvert) said that inquiries about freight rates had risen by 50 per cent in the last six months. Removals to Australia were up by about 20 per cent on last year. Single people were attracted to Australia because they could earn more money, while young married couples were leaving because of the high tax rates in New Zealand. The manager of Move ments International, Ltd (Mr A. F. Clarke) said that removals by his company were up by at least 30 per cent on last year More than half of those were to Australia. Young married couples predominated.