WIVES OF AMERICAN SERVICEMEN

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 202, 24 May 1944, Page 5

WIVES OF AMERICAN SERVICEMEN

Well Under 1000 In Dominion Dominion Special Service. AUCKLAND, Muy 22. The accuracy of a recent statement by a member of the American lied Cross in Wellington that there were now oOOU New Zealand wives of United States servicemen, was questioned by the United States Consul in Auckland, Mr. Hiram A. Boucher, lie said the total was well under 101)0 aud he doubted whether it would reach 700. . ~ Before an American serviceman could be married he must get the permission of his commanding officer and the New Zealand authorities, said Mr. Loueher. New Zealand girls did not become American citizens on marriage, but their entry into the United States was facilitated, because they did not come within the immigration quota restrictions. Consequently his office kept particulars of most of the marriages in Auckland province. / . . “In our files now there is a; definite record of 435 New Zealand wives of United States servicemen,” Mr. Boucher added. “This number accounts lor practically all of those married in this district. There have certainly not been as many in the Wellington district. In addition to this number, 35 wives who have gone to the United States during the year from Auckland have been issued visas by the Consulate. The Wellington Legation has issued 49 visas since July 1, 1943, so that the total visas for the whole of the Dominion is 84. Not more than that have gone to the United States in the past year.” It was not realized by many of the girls who were fiancees of Americans, said Mr. Boucher, that they could not obtain permits to leave New Zealand till the servicemen were assigned to duty in the United States. During the past year there had been no transport available for them except in one or two special cases. Of the wives who had gone to the United States 29 had travelled on one ship in unenviable conditions. Be emphasized that travelling for women across the Pacific at present was extremely uncomfortable.