N.Z. to Accept Thousand European Refugees

Chronicle (Levin), 5 October 1948, Page 5

N.Z. to Accept Thousand European Refugees

WELLINGTON, Oet. 4. The Government lia^ (lecided to accept a tolal of lOdd refugees and displaeed persons in the period of 12 months ending .June 1, 194S), announced the Acting-Prime Minister (Mr. Nash) todav. Ile added that a party which should arrive in N e w Zealand about April next will inelude a nuniber of orphan children, also some singie girls for hospital work. About Mi eideriy ]iersons and others who would not be able to undertake nornial nianual work had alsoi been aecepted for settlement in the Uoniinion. "The responsibilitv for the seleetion of the individual refugees to conie to New Zealand rests with the Governnient, and for this purpose a small seleetion mission will, in due course, visit Eurojie," said Mr. Nash. "All the refugees will be medieally examined and .X-rayed before tinal seleetion." The responsibilitv for the provision of shipping for the transport of the refugees had been aecepted by the International Keftigee Organisation and the Neu Zealand Governnient would inake a contribution to the cost of the transport. "New Zealand 's de.-ision to a -eept a nuniber of refugees will not affeot in anv wav the flow of British niigrants to this country," eontinued the Min ister, who added that the experience of the other countries which had accept ed refugees for settlement indicated that they were excellent workers and wero makitig a valuable contribution toward the economv of the countries in which they had been settled.