HAPPY REFUGEES

Taranaki Daily News, 28 September 1940, Page 9

HAPPY REFUGEES

By Telegraph—Press Association.

SAFELY IN NEW ZEALAND FIRST OFFICIAL PARTY

Wellington^ Last Night. Laughing, shouting and singing as the liner berthed the first official party of British children to arrive in New Zealand under the Governxnent scheme for the evacuation of youngsters from the danger zone to the Dominions reached Wellington to-day. With the implicit faith of childhood they gave three cheers for their new homes as the steamer drew in to the wharf. There were 89 altogether, 37 girls and 52 boys in charge of a schoolmistress, six escorts and two nursing sisters. All came from Scotland. Between 30 and 40 were coming to friends or relations by whom they had been nominated, the remainder to be billeted for the duration of the war with foster-parents who had offered them homes in response to the appeal issued a few months ago. These did not, of course, know to whom they were going or what their destiny would be. Vessel Met In Strcam.

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 questions, were to be seen the Director of Education, Dr. C. E. Beeby, 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 the stream. A young but heavily bearded R.N. V.R. rating who was an apparent favourite with the children was festooned with young admirers as he pointed out thd sights. The children waved eagerly down at strangers on the wharf. "Ooh 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. Welcome Given.

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. W. Andrews, and the president of the Wellington R.S.A., Colonel A. Cowles. In charge of the children was Miss Jean Johnson, Glasgow, headmistress of a children's school there before she undertook this form of national service. She ' will be returned immediately to England for a further batch. One of the two nursing sisters was Sister E. McLauchlan, whq,went away from New Zealand with the main body of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force to %e Great War. She had not been back to New Zealand since 1920. Miss Johnson said the children had behaved extremely well'on the voyage. There had been practically no trouble except a few days of very slight seasick:»,ess 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. 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.

Keeplng Them Occupied. 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 o clock nightly. In the tropics all slept on deck. The chilren were encouraged as far as possible to look after themselves. They did their own washing and ironing, girls and boys alike. 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 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, Kerrymuir and Aberdeen. They rangcd in age from Sally Emmett. Edinburgh, 15, to Warner Lamb, of the same city, just five. The largest family comprised four sisters from Greenock. Thirteen-year-old Lillian Burder acted as mother to her younger sisters — Lorna, five, Rose, eight, and Margaret, 11. They are going to live with friends at Miramar, Wellington.