SCOTTISH CHILDREN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 258, 28 September 1940, Page 8

SCOTTISH CHILDREN

PARTY OF 89 ARRIVE. HAPPY ATMOSPHERE. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Sept. 27. Laughing, shouting, and singing as the liner berthed, the first official party of British children, to arrive in New Zealand under the Government scheme for the evacuation of youngsters from the danger zone to-the Dominions leached Wellington to-day. With tho implicit faith of childhood they, gave three cheers for their new homes as the steamer drew into the wharf.' There were 89 altogether—37 ; girls and 52 boys—in the charge of a schoolmistress, six escorts and two nursing sisters, All came from Between 30 and 40 were coming to friends or relations by whom they had been nominated and the remainder are to be billeted for the duration of tlie war with foster-parents who offered their homes in response to the appeal issued a few months ago. These ones did not, of course, know to whom they were going or'what their destiny would be.

The steamer’s rail was lined with laughing young faces as they came alongside. Among them, evidently finding it difficult to keep pace with all-the questions, were to be seen the Director of Education (Dr C. E. Beedy), the Superintendent of Child Welfare (Mr J. R. McClune) and Mr A. G. Harper, of the Overseas Children’s Reception Committee, who had met the vessel in tho stream. A young but heavilybearded R.N.V'.R. rating, who was an apparent favourite with the children, was festooned with young admirers as he pointed out the sights. The children waved eagerly down at strangers on the wharf.

“O-o-o-h, look! There's a real Maori!’’ was one of the first audible remarks. Then they hailed their new land -with three hearty cheers and raised a cheery chorus as the liner moored. Among the first to welcome them were the Mayor and Mayoress of Wellington (Mr and Mrs T. C. A. Hislop), the United Kingdom High Commissioner (Sir Harry Batterbee), the Mayor of Lower Hutt (Mr J. Andrews), and the president c-f the Wellington R.S.A. (Colonel A. Cowles).

AMPLE CARE

In charge of the children was Miss Jean Johnson, of Glasgow, headmistress of a children’s school there before she undertook this form of national service. She will be returning immediately to England for a further batch. One of the two nursing sisters was Sister E. McLauchlan, who went away from New Zealand with the. main body of the New Zealand- Expeditionary Force to the Great War. She had not been back to New Zealand since 1920. Miss Johnson saici the children had behaved extremely well on the voyage. There had been practically no trouble except a few days of very slight seasickness at the outset from which the children had quickly recovered. The children could not have behaved better. She had never known such a bright, happy lot of kiddies. The members of the ship’s company were “simply daft about them” and she herself was breaking her heart at the thought of parting with them.

The main task on the voyage was to keep the children occupied. They had games, lectures, English and geography lessons, physical training, ballet and cabaret dancing, and community singing. They were all sent to bed at 6.30 at night. In the tropics'all slept m deck.

CHEERFUL OBEDIENCE,

The children were encouraged as far as possible to look alter themselves. They did their own washing and ironing, girls and boys alike. The discipline appeared to be strict, but anything but oppressive, as was evident from the alacrity with which Miss Johnson’s least word was obeyed. The children had the ship practically to themselves, as for the greater part of the voyage there was only a handful of - other passengers.

The children were mainly from Glasgow and Edinburgh in almost equal proportions, but there' were some from Greenock, Kirriemuir, and Aberdeen. They ranged in age from Sally Eminett, of Edinburgh, aged 15, to Warner Lamb, of the same city, just

The largest family comprised four sisters from Greenock, and 13-year-old Lilian Burder acted as mother to her younger sisters, Lorna (5), Rose (8), and Margaret (11). They are going to live with friends at Miramar, Wellington.

Hardly had the shore folk boarded the vessel than the bell rang for dinner —high tea they called it. They stood eyes tightly shut to chant a very charming Grace, and then stood at Miss Johnson’s word to greet their visitors. 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. MAYOR’S WELCOME.

The children were welcomed to New Zealand by the Mayor, w'ho addressed them briefly as they had tea. As the mouthpiece” of the citizens of Wellington, 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 were from Scotland. He 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-countrymen. “God bless you all, and we are very glad to see you,” said the Mayor. “I hope we shall see a lot more of yon after this.” The children applauded vociferously and thanked him for his welcome with more cheers. Afterwards they swarmed round their visitors, very friendly and anxious to learn what they could of their new homeland. They were eager to see New Zealand coiris and keen to swop their own for the new sort until told they would be losers by the deal New arrivals were greeted with; “Have you a New Zealand threepence, mister? Let’s have a look at it! “What are those things on the tailside? Look! This Yin has a bird on it That’s- a kiwi and there’s a Maori crouching down with his spear !” All the children wore identification discs round their necks and some evacuation labels in their lapels like parcels for the post. Ivilts and tartan skirts were numerous.

MINISTERS ON BOARD. They wer<s a brown, jolly, health} and happy-looking lot of youngsters, very friendly, not at all shy. but extremely thrilled at arriving in a new country and extremely .excited at all the important people who had come to meet them, for soon after tea there came on board t'he Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. P. Fraser), the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. W. E. Parry), the Minister of Education (Hon. H. G. R. Mason), the Minister of National Service (Hon. R. Semple) and his associate Minister (Hon. D. Wilson), the Minister of Labour (Hon. P. G. Webb), the Leader of the Opposition (Hon. A. Hamilton'). Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates (member of the War Cabinet), Mr S.

G. Holland, M.P., and Ms J. W. Heenan . (Under-Secretary of the Internal Affairs Department). The occasion was quite informal. The Ministers chatted with the children and were photographed in happy groups with them. “It that the Prime Minister? asked one little boy. “Coo, Jimmy! There’s the Prime Minister!” y “Say, who’s the big fair man next to him ? Is he roally a detective ? Hey, Jimmy 1 There’s a real detective. Look, Bill ! There’s a detective. I say, where’s his gun ? Oh, don’t they ’have guns in New Zealand?” _ It was obvious who stood highest in childhood’s scale of hero-worship. The Wellington contingent and those for the rest of the North Island slept on board the ship last night. Thu South Island children were to have left for the south to-night, the Palmerston North, Masterton and Hamilton parties will be sent up-country to-morrow, and it is hoped many of the children will reach their new homes to-morrow. Those who cannot will be taken to children's institutions which are to be used as clearing stations.

DISTRIBUTION OF CHILDREN

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Sept, 28. All the 89 children who have arrived in New Zealand to make temporary homes will be dispersed to them by Monday. Thirty-five are nominated by relations, and 1.4 went to tho South Island last night, some to make their homes in Christchurch, some in Timaru, some in Dunedin, and one in Hokitika. The other nominated children have already joined their relations in Wellington or are on their way to homes further north. Fifty-four who have come to homes offered by foster-parents have been divided into four parties, ten going to Palmerston North, ten to Masterton, ten to Lower Hutt, and 24 to Wellington.

The Premier has cabled the arrival to the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs and the High Commissioner in London, also the Provosts of Edinburgh and Glasgow,