FOREIGNERS ARRIVE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 132, 7 June 1939, Page 13

FOREIGNERS ARRIVE

WANGANELLA'S .QUOTA

VARIED OCCUPATIONS

There was an international flavour about the arrival of the Wanganella from Sydney today, for among her 320 passengers were 38 people from Central Europe, 5 Russians (members of a theatrical company), and 10 Hindus. After the Port Health Officer and the Customs and Immigration authorities had boarded the vessel in the stream, the ship's lounge, converted into a temporary Customs and Immigration office, presented an animated appearance. Fifty-eight of the passengers had to receive special attention from the Immigration officers and most of them were grouped in one portion of the lounge; the Hindus occupied another, two women of their number lending colour to the scene in their pink and blue flowing raiment; and the rest of the lounge was devoted to the remainder of the passengers.

In recent months there has been a noticeable increase in the number of foreigners arriving from Europe to settle permanently in New Zealand, and today's quota by the Wanganella was one of the largest. There were 13 Germans, 12 Czechs, 7 Poles, 2 Greeks, 1 Swede, and 2 Austrians, In addition, one Austrian and five Russians arrived on a visit to New Zealand, and there were ten Hindus, two of whom were returning, eight having made the trip to join relatives.

The occupations and qualifications of those arriving today to settle permanently in New Zealand varied. One was a Doctor of Laws, who, with his wife, had left Vienna and was prepared to undertake any work. Another was a Czech, with his wife and three sons, aged 19, 16, and one year, who hoped to Obtain employment as a packing expert. ,He brought about £1500 sterling, and was able to read and write German, English, French, Spanish, and Italian. Another was a Pole, from Munich, with his wife, two daughters aged 19 and 18 years respectively, and his son, aged 15. He hopes to obtain employment with an electrical com*pany, and reads and writes German, Polish, and English. There was also another Czech, who brought £400, and who is a'welder and engineer. He reads and writes English, German, French, and Polish. Another was a glue manufacturer from Vienna, and yet another was a German from Breslau, an engineer. Before entry into New Zealand can be gained by a foreigner who desires to live here permanently, a lengthy process of inquiry is followed. Application for a permit to enter the Dominion is usually first made to the New Zealand High Commissioner in London. The application is forwarded to New Zealand, and if approved, a permit is sent direct to the applicant. The conditions under which entry is permitted stipulate that the applicant-mjist bring a certain amount of money, so that he shall not be a charge on the State immediately after arrival, and other conditions as to character have to be fulfilled, consequently, the- applicants know before they set sail for the Dominion under exactly what conditions they will be permitted to settle in the country. An unofficial observer estimates that the number of foreigners, mainly from Central Europe, arriving to settle in New Zealand permanently average 20 a week.