2250 CHILDREN MY CONE TO N.Z.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 145, 20 June 1940, Page 7

2250 CHILDREN MY CONE TO N.Z.

EVACUATION PLAN. Scheme To Be Placed Before Dominions. # MANY TO UNITED STATES. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 19. An inter-Departmental committee, under the chairmanship of Mr. Geoffrey Shakespeare, Under-Secretary for Dominions, has worked out a plan, which will be submitted immediately to the Dominions, whereby large numbers of children between the ages of five and 16 will be evacuated to the Dominions. It is estimated that 20,000 will go at the outset, of which? Canada is prepared to take 10,000, Australia 5000, New Zealand 2250, and South Africa several thousands. The first parties will probably leave within a fortnight. In addition many individuals and organisations in the United States have signified a willingness to take children. The Marquess of Lothian, the British Ambassador to the United States, is working out details in Washington. Mr. Shakespeare told the Australian Associated Press that it was necessary to obtain the Dominions' assent. "We regard this matter as of the greatest •urgency," he said. "We need all the machinery to be ready before bombing starts." He added that the committee appreciated the humane motives behind main offers received from tl"> Dominions. Choice for Parents. Mr. Shakespeare emphasised to parents that their decision whether to send their children or not would depend on their , weighing the relative hazards of the sea voyage against those of remaining in Britain. Parents will not accompany children except in special cases, such as soldiers' widows. No children would be sent to institutions. Safety throughout the voyage is being discussed between the Admiralty and the Ministry of Shipping. As soon as possible after the war, children would receive a passage home. Both passages would be free. It is estimated that 400,000 in England and over 30,000 in Scotland are a present in the reception areas. The Government is anxious that Allied refugee children should take their proper place within the scheme. It is hoped that many will remain overseas as part of a balanced migration scheme. All will undergo a thorough medical examination in Britain before departure. Mr. C. R. Attlee, Lord Privy Seal, stated in the House of Commons that an executive body, to be called. the Children's Overseas Reception Board, under the chairmanship of Mr. Shakespeare, had been established to administer the scheme for evacuation to the Dominions, the United States and elsewhere, and to maintain and educate for the period of the war children sent out from Britain, says a British official wireless message. Preliminary discussions had already taken place with the Dominion Governments' representatives in London, and the Government was confident that complete co-operation in regard to t\\e scheme would be forthcoming at an early date.