SOME SERVICEMEN'S WIVES RETURN

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5330, 18 February 1947, Page 5

SOME SERVICEMEN'S WIVES RETURN

Life m America Not Rosy As Paintecl AUCKLAND, last night. "Some New Zealand wives who . went fo the States did not lind the picture jisst as rosy as it had been painted by their husbands," said Mr. J. M. Hogan, a former member of the United States Marine Corps, who arrived in the Marine Phoenix to-day to live in the Dominion. He was referring to a number of New Zealand women who had returned to New Zealand in the ship, having parted from their American husbands. While no figures of the numbers concerned were available officially, it was estimated by United States* ex-servieemen that they ran well into double figures. Other men agreed that the girls had found conditions different to what they had been led to believe, and had not been able to adjost themselves. Divorees, they considered, were due to faults on, both sides, the parties not being generous enough to look at things from a "50-50 angle." Also travelling in the ship were a number of , X ew Zealand wives of exUniced States servieemen who have returned to live in the Dominion with their husbands, Some had families with them. ' Fourteen davs' stay in the Dominion while a member of a United States unit was long enough to convince Mr. Hogan that New Zealand was the plaee for him. Other Americans, he said, had like views. Some, like Mr/ Hogan, are returning to marry girls here. He met a Hamilton girl during his short stay, •they have corresponded regularly, and she was at the hoat to meet him this morning. Among the American men who arrived to-day were a number anxious to take advantage of rehahilitation provided for them under the United States Bill of Rights by continuing their studies in Dominion -universities. A few said they would he looking for employment or would try to start businesses here. All regarded New Zealand as a country of opporlunity with a great future ahead of it.