GLAD TO SEE YOU

Evening Star, Issue 23693, 28 September 1940, Page 8

GLAD TO SEE YOU

WELLINGTON'S WELCOME TO BRITISH CHILDREN LABOUR OF LOVE FOR N.Z. MOTHERS fl’Eii United Press Association.! WELLINGTON, September 27. Laughing, shouting, and singing as the liner berthed, the first official party' of British children to arrive in Now Zealand under the Government scheme for the evacuation of children from the danger zone to the dominions reached Wellington to-day. With the implicit faith of childhood they gave three cheers for their new homes as the steamer drew into the wharf. 'There are 89 altogether, and they are accompanied by adult escorts. The children were given a warm welcome. The Minister of Internal Affairs, MiParry, who carried out the negotiations" with the British Government, said the .mothers of New Zealand would make the children at home here and help them to forget their war experiences. “Here in New Zealand,” he said, “ there are 1,500,000 people, many of whom have direct kinship with people in England. Every blow those people suffer is likely to be felt in some New Zealand home, and it is the heartfelt desire of every New Zealander to help their kinsmen. The children sent to us will bo carefully tended, and to the New Zealand mothers it will be a labour of love, and when the time arrives for the children to return the sadness felt to-day in their own homes in England will "he felt again in many New Zealand homes.” Hardly had the shore folk boarded the vessel than the bell ran" for dinner—high tea they called it. They stood, eyes tightly shut, to chant a very charming <.race and then stood at Miss Johnson’s, word to greet thenvisitors. The mayor’s baby daughter, Susan, attending: her first official reception, had tea with them. The babies, half a dozen five-year-olds, shared a special low table furnished with diminutive chairs. The children were welcomed to New Zealand bv the Mayor, who addressed them briefly as they had tea. He assured them how pleased everyone was to see them here safe and well. With all their hearts everyone wished to give them a new and happy home in New Zealand as long as the war should last. He noticed they wore from Scotland. Re could hear the Scottish burr in their voices. Well, his own ancestors and those of many New Zealanders came from Scotland, so they would find themselves among fellow-country-men.

“ God bless you all. and wo are very glad to see you,” said the Mayor. “ I hope we shall see a lot more of you after this.”

The children applauded vociferously and thanked the mayor for his welcome. They swarmed round their visitors, very friendly and anxious to learn what they could of their new' homeland. They w r ere eager to see New Zealand coins and keen to swap their own for the new sort until told they would be the losers by the deal. All the children w’ore identification discs round their necks, and some evacuation labels in their lapels like parcels for the post. Kilts and tartan skirts were numerous. They wore a brown, jolly, healthy, and happv-look-ing lot of youngsters, very friendly and not at all shy. They were extremely thrilled at arriving in a new country. Soon after tea there came on board the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser), the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Parry), the Minister of Education . (Mr Mason), the Minister of National Service (Mr Semple) and his, associate Minister (Mr Wilson), the' Minister of Labour (Mr Webb), the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Hamilton), Mr Coates (a member of the War Cabinet). Mr S. G. Holland. M.P., and MrJ. W. Heenan, TTndcr-Seeretarv of the Tatenral Affairs Department. The occasion was quite informal. The Ministers chatted with the children, and were nhotograplied in happy groups with them.