“Lost Opportunity”: Immigration Of Homeless Children

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 20, 15 November 1948, Page 8

“Lost Opportunity”: Immigration Of Homeless Children

In the view of the Christchurch Diocesan Public and Social Affairs Committee the position in regard to child immigration is not satisfactory, as neither the Government nor the Opposition appears to be genuinely concerned. Reporting to the recent Christchurch Synod, the committee said; “It is true the Government has approved a very limited scheme proposed by the Overseas League for the reception of British children, but few of these will be orphans or available for adoption, which is what New Zealand families want. An approach has also ben made to the International Refugee Organisation at Geneva about homeless European children in its care. But it was too late, as the 1.R.0. had given up hope of help from the ‘Christian’ countries, and found pther solutions. “The Government has expressed its willingness to bring in children from Europe as well as from Britain; and ultimately some may come from both these sources. It would seem though, that the emphasis must in future be put on family immigration and not on that of unaccompanied children. This Committee urges Churchpeople to express their willingness to receive such families into New Zealand so that the Government may be assured of support in any move it may make to encourage the immigration of such families.”