KITCHENER CAMP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 March 1939, Page 6

KITCHENER CAMP

NOW AVAILABLE FOR JEWISH REFUGEES. The famous Kitchener Camp at Richborough, Kent. where 40.000 troops were stationed during the Great War, has been acquired by the Council for German Jewry for use as a refugee camp, states “The Times.” It will be the biggest camp of its kind in the country, and will have its own cinema, “parliament,” and hospital. The camp will hold 3500 refugees from Germany and Austria between the ages of 18 and 35. It will cost £BO,OOO a year to maintain, and is to be organised and run by the Jewish Lad’s Brigade. Home Office sanction for the scheme has been received, and the first refugees will move in early this week. Already 100 refugee craftsmen are working night and day to get the camp ready for use. Arrangements are being made by Mr Ernest Joseph, th e_ architect, who spent yesterday at the camp completing his plans. Mr Joseph said that Messrs Pearson and Dorman Long, the engineering firm, who were the owners of the camp, had placed it at their disposal. It was ideal for their purpose but needed much renovation before it was fit for habitation. They had given large quantities of timber, paint, and other necessities in order that the refugee craftsmen could carry out the necessary repairs. A large cinema was being built, equipped and run for them by Odeon’s.

Mr Joseph added that although only a few refugees would be at the camp at the outset they would be arriving very shortly at the rate of about 200 a week. The men would be given intensive training in engineering, agriculture, and trades like boot repairing and tailoring. In the evenings they would learn English and Spanish. It was hoped to devise a kind of “parliamentary” system by which the refugees could have a say in their own welfare. All the men would emigrate in due course and would be no liability on the country.