YOUNG UKRANIAN IMMIGRANT LIKES BAY OF PLENTY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 46, 3 October 1949, Page 5

YOUNG UKRANIAN IMMIGRANT LIKES BAY OF PLENTY

An intense dislike for the Russians, with whom he will have nothing to do after his experiences of them in different parts of Europe, was revealed by Mr D. Huculak, an assisted immigrant from Europe and now employed on the farm of Mr J. Shaw, Edgecumbe, when interviewed by the Beacon. A PolishUkranian, he spoke no English and the interview was carried on in German through an interpreter, Mr C. W. Clarke, of Edgecumbe.

Of all the people he had met so far Mr Huculak said the Russians were the most disagreeable and it was because they controlled Ukrania now that he refused to return to his home land. He came out to New Zealand instead.

Only 25 years old Mr Huculak is married and the father of two’ daughters, one aged two and the other three. The eldest girl is deaf and dumb and arrangements are being made with the Government to have her placed in the deaf and dumb school at Auckland. Just 15 when war broke out this young Ukranian was too young for military service but was impressed for work in a soap factory in East Germany. His treatment by the Germans was not bad but when the Russians invaded this area he escaped to Austria and found employment on a farm. . Mr Huculak and his .family were brought out to New Zealand by the United Nations Refugees Association. They left Trieste earlier this year and travelled under very unsatisfactory conditions but these changed when they landed. From Wellington they were taken to the refugee camp at Pahiatua and of the country he had seen so far Mr Huculak thinks he is going to like, living in New Zealand. However, it is .a bit early yet to form an opinion, he added. Asked what he thought of the Bay of Plenty he said that the country was very beautiful and what he had seen he liked. Since coming here he had received very good treatment. While in East Germany Mr Huculak’s mother died but his father and brother completely disappeared. He has no idea what happened to them. His wife’s parents are at present waiting in a displaced persons’' camp in Austria before sailing to settle in America while a sister is now working in a cotton factory in Australia. Another has now settled in Brazil.

Mr Huculak will be employed on a farm at Edgecumbe and expects his wife and family to join him next week.

While he is settling he will be under the care of the Edgecumbe Sub-Centre of the Red Cross.