BRITISH CHILDREN

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1940, Page 8

BRITISH CHILDREN

By Telegraph—Press Association.

ARRIVAL IN DOMINION NOT AN OFFICIAL PARTY

Wellington, Sept. 11. A party of 170 women and children arrived to-day from Britain. The Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, in a statement concerring them, said that they did not come under the evacuation scheme, but the children, mostly with their mothers, came from war-affected England. They would receive an enthusiastic welcome from. the Government and people of New Zealand would quickly find they were made to feel at home in n new land where sympathy, sentiment and loyalty rang synonymously and true among. the people. Arrangcments for Main Scheme.

" He hoped the party would be followed shortly by a large number of British children to come under the evacuation scheme. It was definite the 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. 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 be well cared for from the time of arrival till arrangements could be made for them to be handed over to their foster-parents. Wholehearted Response. Mr. Parry expressed admiration of the wholeheartedness of the response of many thousands of people throughout New Zealand to the Government's appeal for homes. Nominations of children of relatives or friends continued to be received in a steady stream. All that had to be done was to write a short letter to the Minister or Under-Secretary for Internal Affairs, giving the name of the child and the address of the parents or guardians in Britain. A surprising number of people did not give their own addresses when writing and even failed to sign the ietters; causing a great deal of extra \vork for the staff dealing with the matter All nominations were forwarded to the High Commissioner at London, who got in toucii with tne parents or guardians. If these wished to send their 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 at London or Edmbuign.