BRITISH IMMIGRANTS

Grey River Argus, 30 January 1946, Page 7

BRITISH IMMIGRANTS

SERVICEMEN TO SETTLE IN N.Z. WELLINGTON, Jan. 29 Fourteen British servicemen who came to New Zealand last year as ,patients in the Netherlands hospital Ship, Tjitjalenka, from East Indies internment camps, decided to ask for discharge in New Zealand so that they could settle here. They had to leave for home before they could get permission to remain but on reaching Australia they learned they could secure discharge, and they took the first ship back from there. They returned to New Zealand on Sunday on the Durban Castle. One of the men, Warrant Officer I. J. Quirke, formerly of the British Indian Army explained why the men were so keen to stay in New Zealand. The hospitality here had been wonderful while they were convalescent, he said. Then there was plenty of employment and the climate was ideal. In addition, the social security system was a big draw. He and eight of his comrades had met New Zealand girls whom they intended to marry, or in some cases had already married. He said that many more of the ex-prisoners would have liked to stay in New Zealand, and he believed many more British servicemen would jump at the opportunity to live in New Zealand. He and his thirteen comrades were planning to go into trades. He had been offered three jobs, and was taking one in the railways.