Can N.Z. House Share Of Displaced Persons?

Chronicle (Levin), 10 August 1948, Page 3

Can N.Z. House Share Of Displaced Persons?

- WELLINGTON, August 9. The Inter-Church Council on Public 'Afit'airs is attempting to find oufc, through public questions corumittees oi various churches, wliat practical assist ance other than fiuancial help, chureh members are prepared to offer towards teuiporarily accommodating and eveutually absorbing displaced persons froui Europe in' New Zealand. In a statement • issued today tlio Council. said that niore than 1,000,000 displaced persons in the British, Ameiican and French Zones of Germany, vvere at present the responsibility jof the occupying powers, NdW.-ZealaiLd; contributed her portion of tfig 'bxpen&itur'e involved in ruaintainin^.-thein and' in transpoiying them to couiitri.es vvhiSh were prepared to rece'ive tliexn as immfgrants. Britain, Cauada and Austrada had absorbed large .numbers "of d% placed persons, but.'so far New Zealah^f lmd not signiiied readiness to admit' &■ proportionate quota roughly estimatod at from 2000 to 2500. 't The Inter-Church Council had esy' more than one occasion urged the Go/> ernment to talce steps to discharge Ne\y. Zealand 's moral responsibility in tlus matter. The Council was aware of thd practical difficulties which gravejy handicapped the Government. The chief diiiiculfcy was accommodation which was intensMed by th'e need to accommodato 28,000 British immigrants. The Government was justified in seelving to ascertain the strength of public opinion in favour of admitting displaced persons.