GUEST CHILDREN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24400, 11 September 1940, Page 8

GUEST CHILDREN

OFFERS OF ADOPTION „ EXPLANATION BY MINISTER TEMPORARY RESIDENCE ONLY (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Sept. 10. . - Included in the several thous&nd offers received , by’ .the Government to provide homes for unspecified British?! children to be transported to New Zed-.;’ land are inquiries whether children, being probably orphans, could be adopted by foster parents in the, Dominion. The Minister of Internal Affairs-(Mr W. E. Parry) stated tonight that though there seemed to be much in favour of adoption in the case of orphans, it was not the wish of the British Government that any of the children coming to New Zealand under the scheme should remain in the Dominion permanently, but rather that they should return to England on the termination of the war. The names of persons who had indicated their desire to adopt children given to their care had been specially listed. The Government at present could not give an assurance that any children would be available for adoption. If it was subsequently possible to conclude an arrangement for adoption then, in the event of a child being suitable and the foster parents satisfactory in all respects, adoption might be allowed subject to. the safeguards which, were already' provided in the case of the adoption of New Zealand orphan children and any additional safeguards', that might be deemed necessary withreeard to British children. . ' '. The Minister praised the feeling displayed l?y New Zealand mothers wish-: ing, to adopt children who had been bereft of their parents through, t.ne war.