In the first group movement since lifting of the Japanese exclusion program Sept. 4, 74 Japanese evacuees arrived at Watsonville junction Wednesday morning, Fred Rhodes, local WRA official, stated.

A small group of the evacuees was expected to remain on the Monterey county side of the Pajaro valley. The remainder will be brought to Watsonville and probably housed temporarily in the Watsonville hostel (Buddhist temple) at Union and Bridge St.

Rhodes stated many of the Japanese were available for farm work if housing is provided for them. Housing is one of the most difficult aspects of replacement of the evacuees, Rhodes said.

When the exclusion program was ended, last week, approximately 77 Japanese had returned to the valley already. It is estimated that 40 per cent or approximately 900 of the 2300 Japanese evacuated in March 1942, will return to the Pajaro valley within six months or a year. At present, the valley's Japanese population stands around 150.