More Dutch Migrants Coming To New Zealand

Chronicle (Levin), 17 August 1949, Page 3

More Dutch Migrants Coming To New Zealand

& /WELLINGTON, August 16. The liher Volendam, whieh is due to leave Holland on December 16 for Aus tralifi,1 will, in addition to carrying 14.00 .immigrants for the Comniohwealtk, bring 50 to 70 D.utch agricul tu'raf workers for New ZMland. Mr: H.'A>. Van Luyk, of the Depart men-F'of Social Affairs at The Hague, who arrived at Wellington yesterday from the East Indiq^ and Australia, hopes' to be back in Holland before the vessel sails. There was no longer suffieient land in the Netnerlands, said Mr. Van Luyk to support the agrieultural workers, and, therefore there was a keen desire for them to -immigrate. He eonsidered New Zealand offered better possibilities for their assimilation than any other country. Fellow countryinen who had settled here all spoke, he said, in the highest terms of New Zealand. He added that lie had eome to ascertain the situation in New Zealand and to be in a position to answer all -inquiries from intending settlers. He was carrying out a similar mission 'in Australia. He would probably travel as far as Golombo on the Volendam to leeture to the new setllers and to prepare them for eonditions~in Australia and New Zealand. Mr. Vatn Luyk said that in Batavia there were some 200 demobilised Dutch soldiers with . agrieultural experieuce who would like to come to New Zealand immediately if the sancti^n of the New Zealand Government could be obtained. V New Zealand last year, he said. granted permission for 100 agrieultural workers .to enter, but because of the high costs of transportation only 18 came. It was hoped, however, .that the remaining 82 would probably come from Indonesia.