ADOPTION OFFERS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21215, 11 September 1940, Page 9

ADOPTION OFFERS

CHILDREN FROM BRITAIN NO ASSURANCE AT PRESENT RETURN ENVISAGED (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Tuesday Included in a number of the several thousand offers received by the Government to provide homes for unspecified British children to be evacuated to New Zealand are inquiries as to whether some children, being probably orphans, could be adopted by foster parents in the Dominion. The Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, stated tonight that, although there seemed to be much in favour of adoption in the case of orphans, it was not the wish of the British Government that any of the children coming to New Zealand under the scheme should remain in the Dominion permanently, but rather that they should return to England on the termination of the war. The names of persons who had indicated a desire to adopt children given to their care had been specially listed. The Government at present could not give an assurance that any children would be available for adoption, added that Minister. It it were subsequently possible to conclude an arrangement for adoption, then, in the event of a child being suitable and the foster parents satisfactory in all respects, adoption might be allowed subject to any safeguards deemed necessary. The Minister praised the feeling displayed by New Zealand mothers wisning to adopt children who had been bereft of their parents through the war.