CHINESE REFUGEES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20034, 5 September 1939, Page 14

CHINESE REFUGEES

GROUP REACHES N.Z. WIVES AND CHILDREN GREAT HARDSHIP ENDURED (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. The first group of Chinese refugees brought to New Zealand from the war zones by relatives in. the Dominion has reached Auckland. The party comprises the wives of eight Chinese resident in New Zealand and several children. A larger party of 70 will reach Wellington shortly, and others are on their way. Subject to certain conditions, the wives of New Zealand-born Chinese are admitted to the country in ordinary times. The present arrivals have been brought to the Dominion by Chinese resident here but not born in New Zealand. Under special permits the refugees will be admitted for a period of two years, subject to the signing of a £SOO bond and the payment of a deposit of £2OO, to be forfeited if the conditions laid down are broken. Any children born to refugee wives while in New Zealand must leave at the expiry of the two-year term. All the refugees in the group which has arrived are from the Kwang Tung province, the majority being from the vicinity of Canton. Many endured great hardship in reaching Ilong Kong, whence they embarked for New Zealand, via Australia. The journey from Canton to Kow Loon, whence the ferry to Hong Kong leaves, normally takes three hours by train. The refugees, ever, had to travel on foot with their' children and had to make a wide deiiciur to .avoid ’Japanese forces. Many took 10 days to reach Hong Kong. Even then difficulty was found in securing steamer accommodation as all the vessels leaving Hong Kong are crowded. Several of the party still showed signs of the privations they had suffered. Only two families will remain in Auckland, and the others will go to relatives in various parts of the North Island.