MASS EXODUS OF YUGOSLAV RESIDENTS

Chronicle (Levin), 13 August 1947, Page 3

MASS EXODUS OF YUGOSLAV RESIDENTS

• AUCKLAND, August 12. A jnirty of about 60 New Zealuml Yugoslav resideuls, the largest total over to lcave tlic Dominiou by oue sliip, will sail by dlie Ibingiliki to uioiTow froiu Auckland for London, bou nd for their hoineland. These departure indicates oue of the most important trends amoiig New ZealauU 's foreign eonimuinties, a Jarge scale returu of Yugoslavs to Europe. About (50 have already left and many more are awaiting the completion of papers. The Yugoslav eoinmuinty is expecting ihe Yugoslav steamer Kadmik to visit the Dominiou shortlv and a fairly large nuuiber will embark here for tlie passagc lioiue. "iMost of us caine to New Zcaland to spend just a few years," said Alr. N. M. Ivicevich, of Auckland, secretary of the New Zealaiul Yugoslav Association. "Before tlie.Arst world wai neiirly half of present day Yugoslavia was under Austian rule and as Slavs we were nol satislied with our economic conditions. Between the two wars economic conditions were not good Init now they are improviug rapidl.v and Yugoslav iminigrants are retiiruing liome from all parts bf the world to help rebuild their eountry. ( Wages m Yugoslavia are equal to those in New Zealand. The future is assured and living conditions are improviug very quickly, " continued Mr. Ivicevich. Maiiy of the Yugoslav coimuunity had wives and families in their native eountry and before the war the wives were always asking their husbands to briug them to New Zealand. The wives were now asking them to come liome as soon as possible. ;• There are about 5000 Yugoslav-borri New Zealand resideiits. Oue of tlie coinmunity stated that thousands of letters lia'd been received from their families and kinsfolk in tlieir native land telling of conditions there and those roturning were liappy to go. Speaking for himself he said he ha-l been many years in New Zealand and

liked iliis countrv. ' ' My brain says stay here but my lieart says go honie, " he added, "and I tliink I will do whai my lieart tells me. "