Child Immigration Suggested To Solve Population Problem

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 99, 24 September 1948, Page 6

Child Immigration Suggested To Solve Population Problem

“It is obvious that unless this Dominion moves faster in seizing so favourable an opportunity, other Dominions, and not New Zealand, will gain this much-to-be-desired accession in population,” said Mr A. Leigh Hunt, president of the . Dominion Settlement and Population Association, at the association’s annual meeting, when commenting upon the desirability of bringing British children to settle in New Zealand. British children, he continued, constituted the most desirable immigrants, not only because of the beneficial effect on our ageing population, but also because the housing problem did not enter into the question of their absorption. In September, 1947, the association placed before the Prime Minister an offer to secure British children; the proposal was accepted, and the association immediately began negotiations with the Overseas, League in London, with satisfactory results. The basis of the proposals was that thq. children—not necessarily orphans—aged from eight to 17, would enter New Zealand homes under guardianship, and that the family allowance and income tax concessions should apply in the same manner as for the actual children of the guardians. If adoption' were desired by the foster-parents, it could be negotiated direct with the relatives in Britain.. The indication was that many thousands of New Zealand homes would gladly come into the scheme. The Overseas League gave assurance that a substantial number of selected children were available.