Primate Of N.Z. Gives Advice To Britons

Chronicle (Levin), 5 August 1948, Page 6

Primate Of N.Z. Gives Advice To Britons

Eeeeived Wednesda, 7 p.m. ' . LONDON, August 4. The Primate of New Zealand, Arcfibishop West-Watson, refexring to eriticism of tfie type of some Britisli emigrants to New Zealand attributed to hiin by the Britisli Press, said the bald statement quoted might eause some misunderstanding. "I feel we ean and should absorb a lot more Britisli peoplee in New Zealand," he said, ' ' but I eonf ess I am a little depressed by the number' of these people who seem unable to take root there. 1 eannot lielp feeling that many Britons going to New Zealand are going with a sense of restlessness in a desire t,o escape from the imtations of life in Britain at present. But I should like to point out that people who emigrate in this franie of mind are likely to experience a similar feeling of restlessness when they arrive in the Dominion. ' ' It wouid be well for people to reaiise that emigrating to New Zealand today is still in a sense pioneering. They should be prepared to stick it out for a wliile and exercise a little patienee tili they strike root." . Eniphasising the liousing diliiieuities in New Zealand, the Primate said intending settlers should remember that New Zealand liad its own problems to overcome and that it was faeed by a very acute housing shortage. Britisli einigrants should also realise that the feelings and point of view of New Zealauders were not always the sam'e as tliose of tlie people in Britain. Oue hundred years of life in a dift'erent environment liad ereated au individuality of outlook among New Zealauders and infending settlers,- therefore, would be well advised to learn to accommodate themselves to the New Zealand point of view. "They should learn that the pitch plavs differently in New Zealand from the pitch in Britain," he said, "but if they exercise a little patienee they will lind themselves making runs. it is not sufficient for a Briton merely to liave'a fancy to go to New Zealand. It' a migrant is to be Jiked and wants to be happy itmong New Zeaianders; then he must giev them a reason for liking hiin. " • The Primate said he had nO' doubt some Britisli emigrants had not found Ihe welcome they expeeted in New Zealand. "I hope," he said, "that as New Zealand settles dovvn its people will realise the trenieiulous benelit of having amongst them the right type of Britisli migrants. I hope too, that tliey will give new settlers a cordial weicome aiul help them as much as possible during the di-riicult period whiie they are trying to acc.ustom themselves tb the ways of a new land. " We in New Zealand are under an oljligation to the people of Britain and we may well try to repav the debt we ovve by making the Britisli people as happy as possible when they arrive in the land to which they have been attracted. It is perfectl.v obvious that their admiration for the members of

i i our forces who were in this cotmtry ! during the war, has niade many of I them desire to be more closely associat- ' ed with New Zeaianders."