ORPHANS AS IMMIGRANTS.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 May 1939, Page 6

ORPHANS AS IMMIGRANTS.

jS[OT for the first time it has been suggested, on this occasion by members of the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, that children not too young to travel and not so old as to have strong ties with the country of their birth, should be sent to New Zealand from British orphanages to continue their upbringing here. There is no doubt that desirable additions to our population, and additions which would be absorbed imperceptibly, might be obtained in this way. Admitting always that the best immigrant of al) is the native-born child, the British orphan child might in the right conditions take a good second place and be assured of a promising start in life.

Opportunities of drawing on the best elements of the British adult population as immigrants on the whole are diminishing, but, as one of those who took part in the Auckland discussion observed, fine citizens are produced by orphanages, and by bringing in orphan immigrants, '•New Zealand might expect to secure reinforcements of first-class British stock. There should be no great difficulty in organising effective measures to that end. The burden of supporting orphans is so far felt in Britain that financial appeals on behalf of British orphanages are made in this country and in other Dominions. Provided the children were assured of a good upbringing and a satisfactory start in life, an offer by New Zealand to adopt a certain number no doubt would be welcomed by the authorities concerned in the Mother Country. It was suggested by members of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce that children might be brought out at five, six or seven years of age. There is no obvious reason why they should not be brought out al.a still earlier age. It is not a difficult matter to fit up a comfortable nursery for children qn board a modern liner.

Excellent orphanages, like those that exist in Masferton, are fairly numerous in this country and in addition there is a widely-developed system of boarding out wards of the State with approved families, under supervision. It should be well worth while to apply to the object of bringing out orphan immigrants at least any funds now subscribed in this country towards the support of British orphanages. Experience might show that this method of adding to our population was well worth extending.