IMMIGRANTS ARRIVE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19232, 22 January 1926, Page 9

IMMIGRANTS ARRIVE.

THE ARAWA'S COMPLEMENT.

LIFE IN A NEW LAND.

ANIMATED SCENE ON WHARF.

Queen's Wharf was one of the liveliest, busiest and most interesting places in Auckland yesterday, providing as it did the setting for the introduction and weJeome of over 300 new citizens from overseas. The Arawa tied up at the wharf shortly after nine o'clock, but long before that time her deck rails were lined with the eager faces of those who had come many miles to take up life under new skies.

Very heartening were the cries of welcome that went up from the crowd waiting outside the rope-barrier at the wharf side. Only a short time ago, many of those who shouted welcomes had themselves stood just as those newcomers were standing, full of excitement, a little apprehensive, more than a little homesick, wondering what the now life might hold in store of joy and sorrow. But there was little time for reflection once the gangway was down, and the immigrants camo trooping ashore. First there were the formalities of customs inspection and arrangements for accommodation and transport. But the way of the immigrant is made easy in these days. Representatives of religious denominations and welfare organisations were there to offer advice and give information, and right opposite the entrance was a large sign, " Welcome new arrivals. Inquire here." At a table beneath the sign sat a representative of the British Isles Asso ciation, who gave much useful advice to the travellers during the morning.

The Flock House Boys. The majority of the 329 assisted immigrants aboard the Arawa were nominated, and those who had no positions to go to were looked after by the immigration officers and Salvation Army authorities. Included in the party were 30 hoys for Flock House, 38 domestics and 10 English public school boys. The latter came swinging jauntily down the gangway, attired in plus fours and Oxford " bags," well-set up, manlv-looking young follows who should not find life hard in this land of opportunity. Tho Flock House boys were much younger, their ages ranging from 14 to 18. Some of them looked very small and young indeed, with the frail physique of children who have never known the blessings of abundant fresh air and food and sunshine. But they will get all these things at Flock House, and - it is safe to say that iin a year's time New Zealand will have turned them into robust and sturdy lads. ; ' One of the boys, a little chap of 14, said he had just left school f his father's ship had been torpedoed in the North Sea rind his mother was also dead. Another boy, who came from Hartlepool, said he had been nearly a year trying to get work but had not succeeded. All the shipbuilding yards were closed, and the outlook was a very dark one for boys just leaving school. He himself had intended to become a marine engineer and had served his first year's apprenticeship, but there was so much unemployment and hardship in his native town that be had been glad of the opportunity, to get away. He knew nothing whatever about farming, he added, but was sure he would soon learn.

A Contrast in Dress. Or;o little lad from Sussex volunteered •with pride the information that ho had already been working for a year on a dairy farm, but "thought he would rather go in for sheep." Another ooy said he had put in the year since ho had left school at odd jobs, but there did not seem to bo much ahead of him, so ho had been glad to corno to Now Zealand. All the boys wore neat little badges inscribed "Shipowners' Fund, Farm Training Scheme,' New) Zealand," which added quite an air of distinction to the loosely-cut grey suits, long tronsered and mannish in style, that look so quaint beside the New Zealand schoolboy s free-and-easy outfit, belted shirt, short pants and rolled-down socks.

The girls for domestic service were a bright-looking lot, who via re spoken of highly by the ship's matron, Mrs, Tebb. They, too, wore badges, neat gilt and enamel, with the words, "New Zealand, Onward," inscribed. Six of the girls have como to positions in Auckland. The others left last evening for the South in charge of the matron, and will be sent 011 to their new homes.

Cheery and Full of Hope. , Among the mothers and fathers waiting there in the big, busy shed, the prevailing feeling seemed to be one of thankfulness that the long journey was ended. The men belonged to various trades and callings. A number of them were going to relatives who have already made homes for themselves, others were starting life anew in a land that holds neither kith nor kin. But they were cheery and full of hope, and hack of it all there seemed to be the comforting thought that no matter how dark the outlook might become, it could not possibly be any worse than the conditions they had left. Unemployment and the dole —that was the burden of each man, woman and child s story. England, it seemed, from them, was a goo<J place to be ont of, from the working man's point of view. All through the morning the newcornel's sat beside their piles of luggage, waiting for customs and other formalities to be completed. 'Hie children were quite happy, seated on their bundles and boxes, sucking oranges and sweets, watching round-eyed the stir and activity all round "them, Under their feet was firm ground at last; that was all that mattered. A few hours' extra waiting was of no consequence, now that they were really at journey's end. The South-bound portion of the Arawa's contingent, numbering 250, left by the two Main Trunk expresses last evening.