CHILDREN FROM BRITAIN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 250, 19 September 1940, Page 8

CHILDREN FROM BRITAIN.

While no information can yet be given by the Government when children from Britain will arrive in this country, preparations for their reception are well in hand. The small band that reached here some days ago came by private arrangement and were not part of the evacuation scheme, but their arrival has stimulated interest in a plan which received the most sympathetic consideration of all parts of the Empire and also the United States when it was first canvassed. Though this took place a few months ago offers of homes.are still being received by the Government, and without doubt London’s horrible experiences of late have helped to increase the number of homes available here for British children. There was considerable disappointment when it becamd known in July'that the British Government had been compelled to reorganise the scheme and actually postpone for a time its operation. While many people in Britain preferred that their children should not be separated from them, others were readily anxious to avail themselves of phonies far beyond war’s ravages. Quite a number have been sent to Canada and to the United States, but the real difficulties lay in providing the necessary shipping and protective escorts. No merchant ship vital to Britain’s war need could be spared; neither could vessels of the Royal Navy be diverted from their essential duties of defending Britain’s shores or the sea lanes. But, it was pointed out, none of these considerations was fatal to the prosecution of a small, properly organised scheme. The recent torpedoing of a ship carrying refugee children to the United States sent a wave of horror round the world. Hitler bluntly refuses to recognise the right to protection of those whom war should not touch, and so unrestricted warfare continues against merchant vessels. It was a singularly fortunate circumstance that none of the children lost their lives, their brave demeanour helping in their rescue. At the same time the incident has encouraged many United States people to urge their Government to do something more in the matter by arranging shipping for transporting these children to oversea homes. New Zealanders, it appears, must wait a while before children can come here, but no matter how long the delay they are assured of a very warm welcome when they do reach these shores.