REQUEST FROM SALONIKA

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24910, 25 June 1946, Page 3

REQUEST FROM SALONIKA

GREEK FAMILIES FOR NEW ZEALAND

IMMIGRATION SCHEME DESIRED

. Greek organisation, writing from cAnita, has sought the aid of the Christchurch Returned Services’ As--Sion in settling Greek immigrants "and holdings in New Zea- <®' ng letter, read at the last evenmeeting of the executive of the Sciation, sought information on emigration prospects, on behalf of Se than 4000 families. A man s work a day in Greece, said the letter, Snld buy him 21b of meat a day; in Zealand it could buy 201 b. association decided to reply to .. letter, advising that it -would pass the request on to the appropriate Minfeter of the Crown. The letter, under the heading PTlnion of Greek Immigrants,” read:— “Over 4000 families of farmers, tobacco producers, stockbreeders, and fruit producers formed a union with thP keen desire to migrate to your country. Although before World War n we were not owners of enough fields, we remained there suffering from poverty. Now, as our houses are burned and our belongings are looted by the invaders —the Germans, Italians and Bulgarians—we decided to start a new life in New Zealand. “We try to find landowners who desire to work their land intensively as shareholders or otherwise. Our union has very prompt men and women for any kind of work. We know that if we work a day in Greece our wage are hardly buying 21b of meat, whilst jf we are in your country the same labourer may buy over 201 b of meat. “Our land share is from acres to 7 acres for a family of six. We admired the fighting ability of New Zealanders when they helped us against the Germans in 1941, and have the keen desire to join them in New Zealand. We would be very obliged if you would have kindness to give us instructed and send us some printed information and statistics on the matter.”