CHILDREN ARRIVE

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21215, 11 September 1940, Page 6

CHILDREN ARRIVE

EVACUATED FROM BRITAIN STATEMENT BY MINISTER RESPONSE IN DOMINION (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Wednesday A part of 170 privately arranged for children, arrived to-day from Britain. The Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry in a statement concerning them said that they did not come under the Evacuation Scheme but the children, mostly with their mothers, were from war affected England and would receive an enthusiastic welcome from the Government and people of New Zealand. They would quickly find that they would feel at home in their new land where sympathy, sentiment and loyalty rang synonymously and true among the people. The Minister said he hoped the party would be followed shortly by a large number of British children, to come under the evacuation scheme. It was definite that 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. Need for Secrecy He felt sure that relatives and friends, who had nominated children, would understand the need for secrecy and any inconvenience they might experience as a result would be cheerfully borne in the interest*' of the children themselves. Those expecting children could rest assured that they would be well cared te* from the time of their arrival till arrangements could be made for them to be handed over to their foster parents. Mr Parry expressed his admiratlo.* of the whole-heartedness of the response from many thousands of people throughout New Zealand to the Government’s appeal for homes Still Being Received Nominations for children, 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 the Under-Secre-tary of Internal Affairs giving the name of the child, and the address of the parents dr guardians in Britain. A surprising number of people did not give their own addresses when they were writing and even failed to sign the letters causing a great deal of extra work for the staff dealing with the matter. All nominations

were forwarded to the High Commissioner in London who got in touch with the parents or guardians. If these wished to send children and the children were eligible under the scheme and were accepted, ah arrangements would be made by the High Commissioner in conjunction with the children’s overseas reception board in London or Edinburgh.