BASQUE REFUGEES

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 444, 27 May 1937, Page 5

BASQUE REFUGEES

NEW ZEALAND SANCTUARY?

Wellington Man’s Suggestion

Press Association—Copyright. Wellington, May 26.

"Can New Zealand not act as mother to the motherless and as fosterparents to the children who have lost their parents' In the Basque province?” askedi Mr M. G. C. McCaul at

to-night’s meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce.

Mr McCaul, who is president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, spoke of the l aid Great Britain was giving to Basque children by removing them to the sanctuary of English soil. The Basque people, he continued, had a long and honourable tradi. tion and kinship with British stock. “Cannot we request the Government through this chamber to cable the British Government with New Zealand’s' offer to act as foster-par-ents to some of 'these orphan Basque children and give shelter and a home to such as need it,” said Mr McCaul. Mk ,1. T. Martin rose 1.0 a point of order. He submitted that, although every member had sympathy with the children concerned, the matter was outside the scope of the Xjhambeit The newly .elected president Mr A. •I. Curtis, ruled that the question was not one the chamber could discuss, and the discussion then lapsed.