FUTURE RESIDENTS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 81, Issue 7252, 15 September 1950, Page 4

FUTURE RESIDENTS

IMMIGRANTS FOR TE AWAMUTU PLEA FOR HELPFUL ATTITUDE The need for a sympathetic understanding and a helpful attitude towards the immigrants who are expected to take up residence in the Te Awamutu Air Force Camp early next year was strongly advocated at Tuesday night’s meeting of the Chamber of Commerce by Mr A. G. Warburton. Mr Warburton said they all knew that the Air Force Stores had been allocated for the use of immigrants. One hundred and fifty families would be housed there on their arrival and it wag reasonable to assume that the population would be 600. Their arrival offered scope for trading facilities and it also offered considerable scope for consideration. It was expected that 100 families would be arriving early in March and they should consider what could be done in a helpful way, such as helping the families to establish themselves in their new way of life in a new country. The more quickly the new families were established into citizenship and absorbed into the community the better it would be. There was a definite responsibility on the Chamber and people generally to see that that was done. An age limit of 45 had been placed on the immigrants, and they would be allocated to hydro-electric works and other callings. There would be a considerable school population and there would no doubt be some factory workers among the women, an\ younger people. From all angles they were faced with responsibility. Mr Warburton went on to refer to other eventualities that might arise as a result of the occupation of the stores by the immigrants. The president, Mr Wanklyn, said they were all interested to hear Mr Warburton and he (the chairman) suggested that the- Chamber should support the movement to assist at an appropriate time. Mr Grieve suggested setting up a Committee to co-opt other organisations and report back to the Chamber. Mr Warburton said that if they created a good impression on the immigrants they might want to live in Te Awamutu. Mr R. Salmond, speaking as chairman of /he Boy Scouts' Committee, said the Scouts had decided to welcome the young people and help them m every possible way. Mr Salmond said he felt sure the Girl Guides would do the same. It was decided, on the motion of Mr. Ansell, to place the matter on the agenda paper of the October meeting.