PATIENCE REQUIRED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26842, 5 August 1948, Page 5

PATIENCE REQUIRED

TAKING ROOTS IN NEW LAND

ADVICE FOR MIGRANTS TO NEW ZEALAND

Rec. 9 p.m. LONDON. Aug. 4. The Primate of New Zealand, Archbishop Campbell West-Watson, referring to the criticism of the type of some British emigrants to New Zealand attributed to him by the British press, said the bald statement quoted might cause some misunderstanding “ I feel we can and should absorb a lot more British people in New Zealand,” he said, “but I confess that I am a little depressed by the number of these people who seem unable to take root there. “I cannot help feeling that many Britons going to New Zealand are. going with a sense of restlessness m a desire to escape from the irritations of life prevailing at present in Britain. But I should like to point out that people who emigrate in this frame of mind are likely to experience a similar feeling of restlessness when they arrive in the Dominion. “It will be well for people to realise that emigrating to New Zealand to-day is still in a sense of pioneering. They should be prepared to stick it out for a while and exercise a little patience till they strike root.” Emphasising the housing difficulties in New Zealand, Archbishop WestWatson said that intending settlers should remember that New Zealand had its own problems to overcome and that it was faced by a very acute bousing shortage. British emigrants should also realise that the feelings and point of view of New Zealanders are not always the same as those of the people in Britain. One hundred years of life in a different environment had created an individuality of outlook among New Zealanders, and intending settlers would therefore be well advised to learn to accommodate themselves to the New Zealand point of view. “ They should learn that the pitch plays differently in New Zealand from the pitch in Britain,” he said, “ but if they exercise a little patience they will find themselves making runs. “It is not sufficient for a Briton merely to have a fancy to go to New Zealand. If a migrant is to be liked and wants to be happy among New

Zealanders, then he must give them a reason for liking him.” Archbishop West-Watson said he had no doubt that some British emigrants had not found the welcome they expected in New Zealand. “ I hope,” he said, “ that as New Zealand settles down its people will realise the tremendous benefit of having among them the right type of British migrants. I hope, too, that they wili give new settlers a cordial welcome and help them as much as possible during the difficult period while they are trying to accustom themselves to the ways of a new land. Dominion's Obligation “We in New Zealand are under an obligation to the people of' Britain and we may well try to repay the debt we owe by making British people as happy as possible when they arrive in the land to which they have been attracted. It is perfectly obvious that their admiration for members of cur forces who were in this country during the war has made many of them desire to be more closely associated with New Zealanders,” he concluded.