ANOTHER VIEW

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26542, 18 August 1947, Page 6

ANOTHER VIEW

ENGLISH IMMIGRANTS SATISFIED WITH CONDITIONS Daily Times Special Service AUCKLAND, Aug, 16. An opposite view of New Zealand to that held by dissatisfied Bytish immigrants who decided to return to ■-their homeland was expressed yesterday by Mr R. A. E. Mogford, an English electrical engineer, who arrived in the Dominion in the ship which brought many of the people who left again at the week-end. Mr Mogford first came to New Zealand with his wife and daughter in 1924, and stayed until 1931. He said he landed in the Dominion with only £ls and did not know anyone here. At that time he found the people very helpful, the standard of living was higher than in Britain, and- the atmosphere was more friendly. “I have just finished spending 16 years in Britain, and on my return here I have found that the people have not changed and the country has the same desirable elements ufat I found formerly,” said Mr Mogford. “On the other hand, when I returned to Britain in 1931 I found that the same opportunities did not exist there. Ability is not recognised in Britain as it is here, and also in Britain there is too much tendency to screw out the last ounce of energy a person can give. The Housing Problem “After speaking to some of the persons who are returning to the United Kingdom, I think most of their trouble is the housing problem,” Mr Mogford stated. “They would have been much more satisfied with conditions here if they had had somewhere to live. I was lucky this time, but some of the people who are now grumbling are simply in the same situation as I was in 1924. They have chosen to give up their homes in England and come out here, and they must remember that they are no worse off than they would have been if they had given up their homes and stayed in England. In any case, they are not as badly placed as a New Zealander would be if he went to England to-day expecting to find a home.” The persons who had made the complaints had been unfair, because eight weeks was far too short a time in which to form an opinion of a country, Mr Mogford continued. At present they were thinking of the beautiful English summer, but when they got back and struck the English winter they would probably regret that they had ever left New Zealand. Another Family’s Support A further defence of New Zealand was expressed in a letter to the editor of the Herald by Mrs K. Saunders, who arrived from Britain with her hus,band and two children five weeks ago. At present they had two rooms wjth “beds and trays” at £6 10s a week, but they were all working and hoped in the not too distant future to be able to buy a house. “ How anyone could leave this lovely country, its wonderfully mild winter, its b.reath-taking beauty and its generous rations is beyond us,” she said. “ The memory of last winter, with the constant queueing, is something I will not forget in a hurry. We count ourselves fortunate to be here." Mrs Saunders said that, having arrived in the Dominion without any invitation and knowing a little about the housing difficulties, the family did not expect to receive any favours.