ADOPTION OF CHILDREN

Chronicle (Levin), 27 August 1946, Page 7

ADOPTION OF CHILDREN

— Press Association

DEPARTMENT'S ATTITUDE

By Telegraph

AUCKLAND, August 2o. The nttitude of the Cliild Welfare braueh of the Education Department 10 the recent suggestion of the Liverpooi parents who wished to send their tvvo children to New Zealand for adoption was set out in a lettcr receivcd yesterday by the Mayor, Mr. J. A. C. Allum, from the superintendent of the brancn, Mr. C. E. Pcek. The superintendent Kaiti that in general it was against tne department hs policy to take any action that would lead to the separation ot parents from their children. A letter from Mr. and Mrs. S. Cakler. of Liverpooi, which was received by the Mayor at the end of last month said they wished to iind a home -for their children in New Zealaad and wero wiiling to let them be adopted. Many people in the Dominion took an interest in the parents' appeai. Mr. Allum sent the parents' letter to the superintemlent iif cJiild welfare, Wellington. ''I think it would be very difiicult to arrange for adoption of the children without the prospedive adopting parents seeing them before.hand, " said Mr. Peek. "It is usual, uhere older children are concenied, to require them to reside with their prosjiective adopting parents I'or about six montlis before an adoption apjilical ion is JileU, to learn how they tit into their new liomes." .Mr. I'eek also said adoption was irot a matter to be entered into hurriedly. especially in a case like the one referred to in the letter from England, where the children had reaclied an understanding age. Mr. Allum will seiul copies of Mr. Peek 's letter to Mr, and Mrs. Calder and to the New Zealand people who liiade iii(|iiiriori wheri the appeai was published.