WOULD LIKE TO COME TO DOMINIONS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 113, 6 February 1939, Page 13

WOULD LIKE TO COME TO DOMINIONS

People Desiring To Leave Germany AUSTE(IAN-BORN DOCTOR’S EXPERIENCE Dpi.’fciNioN Special Service. * AUCKLAND, February 5. Thousands of persecuted German peopdie would grasp at- the merest chai’M e. -of emigrating to Australia and New Zealand, according to Dr. I. H. Van der Hope, Melbourne, who is return] ng to Australia in the Aoraiioi aftet' 18 months spent in post-graduate stutl y on the Continent. Austrianboian, but now a British naturalized subject. Dr. Van der Hope gained a vivUd insight into the sorry plight oi mft'ny Jews and Roman Catholics unfler the Nazi regime, and he said tod:>3’ 'that while in Germany he had been deluged with appeals for assistajj ce in quitting the country. ♦■‘As a linguist and an Austrian-born subject I was able to talk more fieely itfitli German people than, perhaps, the leverage visitor,” said Dr. Van der Hope, “and I was impressed with the discontent that was in, evidence. In Doth Italy and Germany-the people are | .dissatisfied because their enforced liv- > :ing standards are far below those of Other countries where dictatorships are not the mode of Government.” To read of the race persecution and to hear it told were two different things, he continued. Through their adherence to race or religion people had suffered terribly, and throughout his stay in one German city the telephone had rung incessantly with inquiries from would-be refugees as to the prospects of beginning a new life in Australia or New Zealand. This had been one of the reasons which had forced him to shorten his stay by two weeks. The one barrier faced by many of these people was the lack of the necessary funds and he was sorry to see that the poorer class of people, who would be of the greatest value to the Dominion, did not have the opportunity of immigrating to New Zealand or Australia. In his opinion it was this type of refugeee who should be encouraged instead of, perhaps, more wealthy people who were not suited for work in the country. Included among the Aorangi’s passengers was a further party of 115 German Jews who propose beginning a new life in Australia or New Zealand. Most were members of the professional classes, doctors, dentists, and. manufacturers being included in their number. Only a few of the party left the ship at Auckland and the remainder will travel to Australia.