"I've Got Hands"

New Zealand Listener, Volume 14, Issue 349, 1 March 1946, Page 8

"I've Got Hands"

Study the list I’ve just given and you'll realise that these people are not men without jobs, money or prospects. Some have capital, some are in the professions, some have trades, Nearly 60 per cent. can pay their own passages and would go to-morrow, they say, if shipping were available. The majority are under forty, a large proportion are married with young families -- one railwayman had seven children-all are enthusiastic, Naturally they want to continue in the jobs for which they are trained, but if

told that prospects in some fields are, as yet, indefinite, the answer often is: "Oh, I don’t mind having a go at something else — farm work, or something. I’m young. I’ve got hands. Farm work or something." Especially is that true of servicemen. Vague but healthy enthusiasm. Very few expect to find gold in the streets. What are they told?-Come over to the counter. be "I’m just demobbed and I'd like to find out about going to New Zealand. Met your men in Africa and they tald me about your country. Thought I'd like to emigrate." He’s about 25, wears a "demob." suit and is a bit nervous, "What did you do before going into the. Army?" "Well, I was a clerk for a couple .of years-then the War." You explain that clerical positions are normally filled by New Zealanders and that, with our own demobilisation in progress, it’s a little early to say what chances he’d have. Not as good as in the trades, anyhow. "Oh, I wouldn’t mind trying something else-labouring even," "By the way, are you married?" "Ves," "Any family?" "One." ‘ "Well, there’s a place to live to cone sider. We are very short of houses and will be for some years. It’s almost impossible to find even a flat at the moment, And it’s an expensive business getting there. There is no assisted immigration as yet, and when it starts the papers will tell you all about it. But we can’t say when. We have to solve our oe demobilisation and housing problems \ eg "Oh, I wouldn’t want assistance. I’ve a little money saved." "Well, I should say it would cost about £250 for the three of you and then you'd need a little capital to live on ‘until you got a flat or a house and a job. Besides the shipping companies tell us that there won’t be any passages for at least a year, even for those who can pay their own fares. I suggest you take this little book which tells you about New Zealand, and this leaflet that gives you the story of immigration. Read them over and if you’ve any. questions, come back and see us." ; "Thanks very much; I will." "Next please! Yes, sir?" "I’m an engineer and I wondered about going to New Zealand. You see ‘2 So it goes on, over 50 times a day.