BRITISH IMMIGRANTS SAIL FOR N.Z.

Chronicle (Levin), 4 September 1947, Page 3

BRITISH IMMIGRANTS SAIL FOR N.Z.

( N.Z.P.A.—Reuter ,

FIRST LARGE GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE

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LONDON, Sept. 2. Tlie first large group of emigrants to ieave Britain for New Zealaad sineo the Avar sailed in the former hospital ship Atlantis from Southampton today. In addition to 227 young men and , women, who are all going to specified oeeupations in New Zealand,.the Atlantis carried most of the New Zealand Boy Seout contingont returning from the world jamboreo in France. These two parties, together- with smaller groups of naval and Air Force reeruits, a returning rehabilitation bursary holder, and threo -Italian fiancees of New Zealand ex-servicemen, make up a total passenger emigrant list of 620. The old tradition with emigrant ships of' gangplank withdrawals was only barely observed. There was only one last-minute " scratching' ' and the vacancy \\ras promptly filled from a small group wliieh had gone to Southampton in the hope of just such an eventuality. All the new settlors nve single men and women between 20 and 35 years of age, and the grcat majority of thc men are ex-members of the British armed forces. Many of the men attribute their interest in New Zealand to contacts with New Zealand sorvicemen during the war. "They were such a good crowd we thought we would like to join them," was a typical comment. The largest number of the 190 men are classifled as labourers, but therc are 37 sawmill hands, 21 mining trainees, 27 fitters and turners, and a number of other tradesmen. Twelve of the 51 women are general domestics, ten are hospital domestics, 14 stenographers, and the remainder trainees for mental or general hospital nursing. All tho anigrants have passed thc necessary qualifications and medical tests and have been guaranteed employ ment and aecominodation when they reach New Zealand. They are undoubtcdly fortunate in their travelling conditions. The Atlancis, originallv the Itoyal Mail ship A.ndes, was buill before the First World War, but between the wars was converted into a luxury cruising ship, in Aiiich capacitv she toured the Norwegian fiords and sailed on a number of cruises to the West Indics and Africa Mthough she was used during the First World War as an armed merehanf cruiser, and during thc >Sccond World War as a hospital ship, she retains lie^ luxury cruise sliip deck accommodation, ind is spacious and airy below deeks. The British Ministry of Transport has uet all the requests of the New Zea.aud immigration authorities in fitting »ut the ship, whieh will make at least cwo vovages to New Zealand with nigrants. Most of the cabins are of jix or eight berths and all are fitted vvith hospital beds instead of bunks. L'he Atlantis carrios nO cargo, as slie is still ballasted from her cruising day.i.