CHILDREN FROM HOME.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 243, 11 September 1940, Page 8

CHILDREN FROM HOME.

PARTY REACH DOMINION. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Sept. 11. A party of 170 children privately arranged for arrived to-day from Britain. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. W. E. Parry) said they do not come under the evacuation scheme, but are children mostly wit'll their mothers from war-affected England. They would receive an enthusiastic welcome from the Government and people of New Zealand and quickly find they were made to feel at home in a new land where sympathy, sentiment, and loyalty rang synonymously and true among the people. Mr Parry hoped the-party would be followed shortly by a' large number of British children to come under the evacuation scheme. It was definite that children were coming to New Zealand, and arrangements were being completed for their reception. It was not possible at present to give advice regarding individual children prior to their actual arrival in the Dominion and he felt sure that relatives and friends who had nominated children would understand the need for secrecy, and that any inconvenience they might experience as a result would be cheerfully borne in the interests of the children themselves. Those expecting children could rest assured they would he well cared for from the time of their arrival till arrangements could be made for them to bo handed over to their foster parents. Mr Parry expressed admiration of the whole-hearted ness of the response by many thousands of people throughout New Zealand to the Government’s appeal for homes. Nominations of children of relatives and friends continued to be received in a steady stream. All that bad to be done was to write a short letter to the Minister or Undersecretary of Internal Affairs, giving the name of the child and the address of the parents or guardians in Britaiu. A surprising number of people did not give their own addresses when writing, aiid even failed to sign their letters, causing a great deal of extra work I for the staff. All nominations were ! forwarded to the High Commissioner j in London, who got in touch with the parents or guardians. If these wished to send the children, and the children, being eligible under the scheme, were accepted, all arrangements would be. made by the High Commissioner in conjunction with the Children’s Overseas Reception Board in London or Edinburgh.