EAGER YOUNG MEN AND GIRLS

Chronicle (Levin), 27 August 1947, Page 8

EAGER YOUNG MEN AND GIRLS

ARRIVAL OF FIRST ASSISTED IMMIGRANTS , AUCKLAND, August 2G. Scorfes of questions ^greeted Aueklanders wbo tvent on board the liner Rangitata on Saturday to meet the lirst draft of young workers to arrive t'l-oin Britain under the Government 's iiew assisted immigrS,tion selieme. Many of the 118 siiigle rnen and women in the party knew little about their new eotintry, but they wero all convineed that they were going to like it. . JKn thusiasm and eonfidenee were evident rn all the excited groups that gathered at the ship's rail, ignoring the biting aortherly Wind to wateh the approaehing eity and exchange last-minute farewells as the liner moved up to hei berth. :

Burly Irishmen, bright-eyed Glasgow girls and smartly dressed young Lon doners, in facit, representatives from aiJ corners of the United Kingdom, were ib the cheerful party of recruits to the ranks of timber workers, miners, engiueers, mental hospital nurses, domestics, factory employees and other groups where they are urgently needed. Almost all the men and women, whose ages ranged from 20 to 35, had served in branches of the forces. Some had hoped years ago to come to New Zealand, and had been encouraged by New Zealauders they had met in manv theatres of wai'.

The draft left London only a short time after the Government 's scheme was announced, and as a result a number of the immigrants vvho visited New Zealand Ilouse in the Strand two months ago were surprised and deliglited to find that they would be outwardbound so soon. Others had applied for passages a year ago. Mr. R. L. Harrod, a 25-year-old Londoner, had a glhnpse of New Zealand in 1943 when he was on an aireraf t-earrier which passed through Cook Strait. He said he decided tlien that he would come baelc to live. Another Londoner, Mr. F. Mason, also saw a little of the eountry in 1943 while he vvqs serving in the Royal Navy. They are both tUrners and fitters.

Mr. R. Howard, a former transport driver, adniitted that he had never been down a coal mine in his life. HoWever, he had volunteered to go mining in order to get the chanee of coming to New Zealand. Another immigrant announced iu a ricli Irish brogu that he also was going mining. He was Mr. A. G. McCambridge, iormer amateur champion boxer of the Royal Ulstor Constabulary. He left the police foree to work in London, he said. He met a friend, they had read of the immigration scheme, and they de'cided to try their iuck. A fevv weeks later they were on the Rangitata, rie and his friend are bound for Denniston or, the West Coast. Another ex-puxiceman in tho draft was Mr. Janies Hughes, aged 21. "I was in the London Metropolitan Police Porce, and I do not like police work," he. stated. "I am going to Mangapehi to iearn to be a tiinbef worker.

/ Among the 46 girls who will be workiiig in mental hospitals were Misses W P» ATegarry, of Belfast, „and M. P. Salter, of Glksgow, and two former members of the A.T.S., Misses E. J. Smith, of London, and A. Reid, of Ayrshire. They said they had had no mental nursing experience, but they had no qualms about the work. They thought aby job would be congenial 111 New Zealand. The party of women included five shorth.and-typi.stes vvho are going * to joiii the Public Service in Wellington.