Appeal For Accommodation For Hungarian Migrants

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28267, 3 May 1957, Page 10

Appeal For Accommodation For Hungarian Migrants

The acting chairman of the Christchurch Immigration Welfare Committee, Mr J. L. Hay, has appealed to Christchurch citizens to help Hungarian immigrants find permanent accommodation. “The committee appreciates the way in which people have opened their homes to provide temporary accommodation, but the problem now is permanent housing,” said Mr Hay. “There are still a few married couples who need rooms, a flat or a house to rent, and on May 14 there will be a further draft of immigrants. Most of these have be ?n provided for temporarily; our concern is for permanent housing.”

Forty-two Hungarians from the Dutch ship Sibajak will come to Christchurch < n May 14, according to the secretary of the committee (Mr R. H. Bell). Temporary accommodation in private homes •has been arranged for two families, seven married couples, two single women and 18 single men. After a few days, the men will all be at work and earning money.

“The Red Cross will again look after their immediate clothing needs,” said Mr Bell. “And it can help them with furniture for their permanent homes. The Red Cross is short of blankets. Gifts could either be left at the Red Cross rooms, or they would be collected.

“At first all the immigrants will stay in the city, so that they can attend language classes, have their employment explained by interpreters and consult immigration

officers on their problems. “The primary example is set by their hosts and hostesses, but we are often asked to explain labour laws and employment matters, even family affairs and shopping difficulties,” said Mr Bell. Of the 37 Dutch migrants, who will come to Christchurch at the same time 34 have been nominated by Dutch persons already living in Christchurch. Most are relatives or fiances. There are two brothers and their sister who will look for country work. They are 20 to 24 years old.

The next draft of 670 immigrants will arrive from Glasgow in the Captain Hobson on June 16. at Wellington. Mr Hay commended the work being done to help immigrants settle in their new country, especially that of the Christchurch Technical College in forming language classes and that of the Hungarians already settled in New Zealand for acting as interpreters.

Speaking of assistance to immigrants from Britain by the committee, Mr Hay said that a social evening would be held in Christchurch on May 10 as an opportunity for them to renew friendships made when coming to New Zealand, and to see films of New Zealand. They will see films on the hydro works at Roxburgh, the Springbok Rugby tour and the centennial celebrations of Christchurch. There would be a similar evening for Hungarian immigrants, he said.