NEW ZEALAND TO TAKE THOUSAND EUROPEAN REFUGEES

Grey River Argus, 5 October 1948, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND TO TAKE THOUSAND EUROPEAN REFUGEES

WELLINGTON, October 4.

The Government, has decided to accept a total of 1000 refugees, displaced persons, in the period of 12 months ending on June 1, 1949., announced the Acting Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. W. Nash, to-day. He added that the party, which would arrive in New Zealand about April next, will include a number of orphan children and also some single girls for hospital work. About 80 elderly persons and others, who would not be able to undertake normal manual work, have also been accepted for settlement in the Dominion.

“The responsibility of the selection of individual refugees to come to New Zealand rests with the Government and for this purpose a small selection mission will, in due course visit Europe,” said Mr Nash. “All tils’ refugees will be medically examined and X-rayed before final selection/ The responsibility for the provision of shipping for the transport of the refugees has been accepted by thr International Refugee Organisation and the New Zeala/nd Government would make a contribution to the cost of transport. “New Zealand’s decision to accept a number of refugees will not affect in any way the flow of British migrants to this country,” continued the Minister. He added that the experience of other countries, which had accepted refugees for settlemen'indicated that thes 7 were excellent workers and were making a valuable contribution towards the economy of the countries in which they had been settled.