Found N.Z. A Better Place After All

Chronicle (Levin), 7 September 1949, Page 3

Found N.Z. A Better Place After All

Press AssooiationJ!

(Per

AuGIyLAJNJL;, ocpt. o. At least four Aueklaud 'Yugoslavt. aniong the 12U uieu and women W.lio abandoned Ne^vI Zealnnd citizensliip lo retu^-n to their lipmeland, are reported to have fled i'roni Marshal Tito 's Government. Their disillusionment, danger and eseape from Yugoslavia are the subject of many tales and rumours now circulating among Auckland 's blav eommunity. In February 19T8 over 100 New Zealand YugOblavs returned to Yugoslavia in the steamer Radnik and another 20 t'ollowed in tlie liner Partizanka a year later. They were warned by ,the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, that .there was nothing the New Zealand Government eould do if tliey i'ound' tliemselves unable to ieave, Yugoslavia. Two rnen have returned to Newr Zealaml after experiencing considerable diiliculty in quitting Yugoslavia. Another man wlio played a prominent part in organising tlie migration from the Dominion, is reported to have ried tlie eountry but only at tlie price of leavyig his wife and two children with others. Now in vsafe territory, he is believed to be trying to regain a New Zealand passport. Leaders of tlie Yugoslav eommunity in Auckland have questioned wlmtlier i all tliese escapes represent a true change of heart. Tliey elaimed today that some of the escapees, known for stauncli Communist principles, may have found 'tliemselves jeopardised by Marshal Tito 's. break with tlie Cominf orrn. Reports had als'o suggested, tliev said, that present eonditions of austerity living, police surveilliance and religious persecution, liad never been more severe. No further plans for eontinuing .the migration of-New Zealand Yugoslavs to their liomeland, liave been suggested.