FOR AMERICA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 19, 23 January 1946, Page 2

FOR AMERICA

U.S. WAR BRIDES SOME WILL COME BACK During their brief visit to New Zealand American servicemen managed to collect 1500 wives, and these marriages have resulted in the birth ot about 600 children. Six hundred of the wives have left this country for the United States, taking 200 children with them. Fiancees in New Zealand number about 1500; only a few have so far left to join their future hus.bands. Unlike the wives, the number of fiancees fluctuates from time to time—for reasons best knowh to the fiancees them elves—and one has had her name down for some time for the trip to the States, but during that period has given the names of three prospective husbands.

Inquiries made by an “Evening Post’’ reporter showed that it is hoped that all those desiring to go to the United States will have secured passages by June. Dependants (wives and children) are entitled to free transportation on navy and army requisitioned transports and on War Shipping Administration vessels, but fiancees must pay for the trip. Of course, those who are willing to pay full rates may get there sooner than expected if they secure passages other than as arranged for them, and it is possible that when Pan-American Airways commence their trans-Pacific service they will carry home to America some wives and fiancees who do noT have to count the pennies—or the cents.

Transportation to-day is a worldwide problem, and officials of the American Legation consider that in proportion to the numbers concerned the New Zealand dependants of American servicemen are getting home in fairly good time. New Zealand is a far away country, a ship takes a long time to get here and back again, and iu many instances ships cannot be spared because of the needs of the fighting soldier. HAS GAINED A FEW

Those who are waiting in New Zealand for passages might gather some consolation from the fact that there are 15,000 U.S. servicemen s dependants in Australia in the same box, and another 50,000 in England. . The has certainly resulted in some rearrangement of the world’s female population, but it is understood that New Zealand has gained a few, as the importation of British Ywives is somewhat larger than the export of wives to Ameiica.

Although many New Zealand girls are going to make their homes in America, some United States service-' men who have been here have taken a liking not only to their New Zealand wives, but also to the country in which they live. About two dozen came out here a few months ago to rejoin their wives, and some of them intend to stay. Business reasons are the lure for some of them—they are establishing agencies for American pre ducts which should soon come back to the New Zealand market—but others have been attracted by the fine grazing lands of New Zealand and intend to take up farming. One or two have gone so far as to put in for courses at agricultural colleges. THE EROSION PROBLEM

The sins of those who burned down the bush and laid the foundations for a really first-class erosion problem in this country have been responsible for attracting the attention of an American erosion engineer. In New Zea-

land’s crumbling hills and rivers he can ted work ahead for many years. Nobouv- can deny that if he can get such a job he should not suffer from lack of work.

Gloomy prediction about the success of the United States-New Zealand marriages have not been borne out, and most of the unions have turned out happily. The number of tnose which have not is estimated to be about one-half of 1 per cent.—a pretty good average on the whole. Every democi atic army has a few black sheep in its ranks, and there were a few clack sheep among the wives who considered the candy, the flowers, and chocolates and the trip to America more than the men they were to marry. Those are the marriages which crashed: their number is insignificant, when compared with those which will endure through the years of peace as steadfastly as they did during the dark years of war.