Large Belgian Family Begins Life Anew In Levin

Chronicle (Levin), 27 January 1949, Page 4

Large Belgian Family Begins Life Anew In Levin

bimon Portanger, of Liege, Belgium, considers himself a very lucky man, for after months of house hunting in New Zealand he has finally found a haven for himself, his wife and. their seven children in Levin — a town to which he has taken a great liking. "We were passing through your town and stopped to ask if there was a house to buy or rent. An agent said 'Yes, there is a house for sale,' and here we are."

Mr. and Mrs. Portanger were busy completing their unpacking in their home in Chamberlain Street when a "Chronicle" reporter called in to see them. He was met at the gate by the two youngest members of the fa'mily, Tony and Betty, who were energetically engaged in investigating ' the potentialities of the back yard. The others were out, but in a cheerful and • hospitable manner Mr. aird Mrs. Portanger told their story. Surely setting a record" for family migration en masse by air transport, Mr. and Mrs. Portanger and their seven children — Tony (11), Betty (13), Simon (15), Margarithe (17), Jan (19), Edward (21) and Jeanne (22) — arrived by 'piane from San Francisco last year. Wherever they went they were treated with kindness, said Mr. Portanger, and at Honolulu. the airways company honoured them as the largest family transported in one "air lift" by making them its guests during the stay there. "They gave us a very good • time," he added. And what prompted their migration? Mr. Portanger had a quick answer for this one. He had a cousin in New Zealand who ha'd been interned in Java ,by the Japanese during the war. *"I wrote and asked him what wa's the 'best part of the world and he said, 'come to New ""Zealand.' Things are bad in Europe. I was afra^ld of a third war." Living costs for a family of nine were substantial too, said Mr. Portanger. ^ Wages were low and prices high. And what are their plans when they settie down here"? Betty . and Tony will go to school. The others' will settie 'd,QWh to work, which

fshoul'd-entail little difiiculty for all are exceptionally proficlen.t in a variety of occupations. Edward, the eldest son, is an engineer, all types • oL engineeringy he says. Simon is looking to the same profession, while Jan is a master of the intricacies- of clock repairing and is also an, engraver. Margarithe and* Jeanne are 'dressmakers and are keen to recommence their work. Young 'Betty is keen on drawing and hopes that she can obtain art lesSons at school here. Top of her class at primary school in Belgium, she looked really thrilled when the subject of her going back to her lessons was mentioned. One of the girls (Jeanne) is also a stenographer and worked for a while 'in the State Advances office in Wellington, She speaks Dutch, French, English and a little German. , The othev girL (Margarithe) is well versed in the latest European fashions. The ' remainder of the family speak English quite well, but' .confess difiiculty at times. Thqy have never studied the language, but learnt much of conversational Engfish from the American army of liberation. "We've been here six months now and things get better all the time," said Mr. Portanger. He thinks , Levin has the best climate he has seen in the Dominion. On arrival here, he and his family went to Lower Hutt where. they had a temporary home. "We had to have a roof. Now we are in Levin and I hope we are .home," he said as a smiling aside to his wife and children. When Levin, gets to know this charming family it will hope they ar§ "at han^" too.