POLISH REFUGEES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 26, 21 November 1944, Page 5

POLISH REFUGEES

ARRIVAL IN NEW ZEALAND KIDDIES FIRST IMPRESSIONS Writing from the Polish children's cam]), Miss Iris Leaning a Corporal in the W.A.A.C., daughter of Mr 11. Leaning of Hie Willowbank Nurseries, Wliakalane puts, forward some, interesting sidelights on these young visitors to New Zealand. In preparation for their coming, she says-: — "To start with on Monday we. finished the stores and got everything as straight as possible. On Tuesday, we commenced in the afternoon making beds —about .">0 or 00 each. Wednesday the dav they were due to arrive we had to strip about 100 beds to put rubber sheeting underneath; what a job! W r e were, just finished about 2/.W p.m., and the kiddies were due to arrive any minute. Then the trucks started rolling in and our work began in earnest. T started at the, first cottage and began welcoming and showing the kiddies, their new homes. It was really pitiful the way the women broke down and wept; their first home after five yca'rs of being hunted from one place to another. Of course they had no idea Avhat they were coming to here. My smattering of Polish helped considerably though it is amazing how one can make oneself understood without any knowledge of the language.

"f wish you could have seen the kiddies, eyes when they saw the beds, and that they had one to themselves. They walked round them and jumped on them, and as for the showers they simply ran under Lhein fully 'clothed—real water ! There were pressmen and photographers of course taking movies etc.

"After everyone had been allotted a home or a. bed we began the first meal. There are about live, or six messes and as the kiddies tiled out their e} r es widened and they just couldn't believe, it all. some 01' them lour or live years of age have never seen a Unite, or a fork. They have lived in the pas,t mainly like little just grabbing what they could wherever they could. It is really amazing that they have survived at al! } although they arc all very much emaciated. Some are suffering from scurvy and very bad boils —they have all been terribly underfed and a child of. 12 or so looks like, one of our (j year old kiddies. Size i.s no indication of age •»# whatsoever." In conclusion, Miss Leaning .says tliat the children are very tidy and clean and have commenced already to do the gardens and lawns.