CHILDREN FROM BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23108, 26 August 1940, Page 1

CHILDREN FROM BRITAIN

HOMES AVAILABLE IN TIMARU Ninety-five homes have been selected by the Timaru zone committee as suitable for the children it is proposed to bring to the Dominion from Britain. The homes would provide accommodation for 105 children. The Town Clerk (Mr E. Killiek) has advised the Under-Secretary, Department of Internal Affairs, that a considerable weeding out of applicants had been carried out, 73 homes having been declined. In some cases these had been declined because the applicants were not in a position to accept further responsibility, because they were too old, tfie health of the woman of the house was not sufficiently good, or for other •reasons.

Data compiled from the applications showed that the age preferences . of children offered homes was as follows: —Five to seven years, boys eight, girls 42, unspecified, six; eight to 10 years, boys six, girls 25, unspecified, one; 11 to 13 years, boys two, girls 10, unspecified, three; 14 to 16 years, one; unspecified age, four. Nationality preferences were as follows:—English, four; Irish, nil; Scottish, three; Welsh, nil; unspecified, 88. They would go into homes of the following denominations:—Church of England 19, Presbyterian 19, Methodist two, Roman Catholic four, Baptist one, Protestants 47, unspecified five. Seventy-seven homes were offered in the town, eight within two miles of school, five from two to four miles from school, and five more than four miles from school.