SETTLED DOWN

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 13802, 20 November 1942, Page 6

SETTLED DOWN

BRITISH CHILDREN

Happy In Dominion

Some Already Working-

Wellington. Nov. IS

Life in New Zealand is agreeing with the 203 British children who arrived just over 2 years ago under the scheme for the transfer of children from the war danger zones of Britain to the more peaceful atmosphere of the overseas Dominions. Their legal guardian is the superintendent of child welfare, Mr J. R. McClune, and reports received by his office show that his children have settled down well in the homes of their foster-parents and have quickly adapted themselves to their new

surroundings. Several transfers have been made since the children first arrived, due mainly to altered conditions or illhealth in homes. There have been very few cases of serious sickness among the children, whose general health has been excellent.

Approaching Military Age

Some of the boys are now approaching the time when they will be eligible for military service. In the case of lads desiring to enlist before the prescribed age the consent of their parents in Britain is first obtained. Already children old enough are helping the war effort in various ways, girls by doing Red Cross work and boys by serving in the Air Training Corps, Emergency Precautions Service, and similar auxiliary services. His responsibility as guardian of the children had been made easier by the wonderful co-operation of the foster-parents, school teachers and by the attitude of the children themselves, said Mr McClune to-day. The authorities were deeply grateful to all those who had contrived to-keep the children, in spite of the many difficulties with which they had had to contend, including the calling-up of men for military service. It was not a happy experience for a child to be moved from one home to another. It meant a great deal to a child to be thoroughly established in a happy home. Interest in Community Life "Many of the foster-parents have remarked that they do not know how they will be able to part Avith the children when the time comes for them to return to the United Kingdom," said Mr McClune. "Each child now has his, or her, circle of friends and takes an interest in the life of the community and in the war as it affects New Zealand. At the same time, it should not be thought the children are losing" touch with their parents, to whom they hope to return. Every effort is made to make them feel they are not cut off from their own people.

"For the past 18 months the British Broadcasting Corporation has broadcast a fortnightly series of messages from parents and this has meant that nearly all the children have, during this time, heai'd the voices of their parents on two or three occasions telling them the news from home. Due to the generosity of Cable and Wireless, Limited, each child is allowed to send and receive a free cablegram each, month." Some Content to Stay Mr McClune said that although some of the children were looking forward to ihe day when they could return home he thought it quite safe to say that a large number would be content to stay here if their parents could come out to the Dominion. Twenty-one of the children had already left school. One of the girls was attending the university and next year there would be several more. An endeavour was made to give them all as good an education as possible and in this, and in their placement in situations, the wishes of the parents, as of the fosterparents, were considered. Some boys were already working in situations he had approved. Mr McClune expressed appreciation of the generous co-operation received from the medical and dental professions.