Thinks N.Z. Might Do To Live In

Chronicle (Levin), 9 August 1948, Page 5

Thinks N.Z. Might Do To Live In

WELLINGTON, August 8. To h.ok around Xcw Zealand and deeidt* whethor wc will poi tio down,"' Mr, (). 11. Kustace, until roecntlv maunging di rortor of Imperial ChiMiiicfil In du.strics (Mahiyai Ltd., arrivoj with his wife and daughter at Wellington from Singaporc via Australia in tli" Altaron on Satnrday. "Mr. Knstace served through tio 31)14-1 8 war with the Xcw Zealand forces on (lallipoli and in France. On taking liis discharge in Xu»land wher. lu* liad joined as a mombor of a nnit o' Ihe Xcw Zealand forces reeruited by tio Xinv Zealand Higli (Joinmissionor, 'n went out to the East and for thro yt-irs was phuiting in Mai ava. Ile then hdned the Brunner-Mond organisation Bninner-Monds are now a eompuneu' oi l.r.I. and he was in ('hina until 1930. Ile was then transferred to Bingaporo to taho charge of tlie T.C.T. conipany I ■iiined there in 1939. He was on vaealion in Britain and when war threatened hurried baek to Singapore. loaving h!s wife and daughter behind." TTu> eijtrv of Japan into the war found him e i" ing in the R.X.V.R. at Bingapore. .-'tiorlly before the eapitulation his i. iiifsweejxer was sunk when attempting t" get away and he was a captive of * ' e .lajianese until the Allied reoecupa- ' ion. diiiee it was at the end of Mav that hi iefi Malava, Mr. Eustace said it ■ fi diHicult for liini to say nmeh on the ii -1 urbanre now occurring there. They ' nd been going on in a ininor way ever ."«■ the reoc(Mi]>alion, he said. The' ' ornniunists had joined in the resist- •! eec iiiovenient dnring th'e Japanese ■' ■■ 'lipation and verv large qnantities of •■) .-ns tuni anummition had been dropped ecii the air for them. Their present opiies, Iherefore, were almost un : :■•(! even though the police were b • o\ ering duinps frequentlv. The •bftii-uljy was inainly up couutry. The •niu population was qnite well dist " eil to Britain and Singapore was "i • !lv getting baek to normal. There •■?!•! been verv little serious war dam ! •>■ there and rehabilitation was verv "ue k. It had been mainly a ease of 'eoniriiig tlje-effeet of lac.k of niaintenwork/ There had been verv little 1 ' -age to the ruliber trees and ]danta5 ■ ■ - though there had been a certain •eount done to rubber factories. The • '» ! of living was verv liigh in Singa,"(e, Mr. Knstace stated, niainlv on ■ nunt of heavy increases in wages. "The ohl circle," he commented.