EVACUEES FROM EAST INDIES

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24801, 15 February 1946, Page 4

EVACUEES FROM EAST INDIES

ORIGINAL PLANS UPSET DRAFTS TO ARRIVE AS TRANSPORT OFFERS (P.A.) AUCKLAND, February 14. It was not possible at present to estimate how many Dutch nationals would be evacuated from the Netherlands East Indies to spend a period of recuperation in New Zealand, said the Vice-Consul for the Netherlands at Auckland, Mr H. F. van Eck, to-

dE When arrangements were first made toward the end of last year, it was expected that 3000 would come to the Dominion, but shipping difficulties had upset the original plans. At first it had been decided that drafts of about 500 or 600 evacuees would arrive at intervals of a month, and would stay here for from four to six months. Because of the shortage of shipping, mainly because 11 Dutch vessels had been held up in Australia through the waterside workers declaring them "black,” drafts would be dispatched whenever transport was offering. The hospital ship Tasman, which had brought the first draft of 450 mqn,, women, and children on Wednesday, would return with approximately another 600 in a month. Mr van Eck said it was estimated that most of the evacuees would be fit io return home after spending four months in New Zealand, but the stay would be extended to six months in cases where doctors thought it was justified. At the end of their period of recuperation the people would be sent directly back to Java. No arrangements had yet been made for the return of the draft that arrived on Wednesday. Of the 450 now at “Oranje,” the Netherlands East Indies welfare organisation’s transit centre at Remuera, only 150 would stay in Auckland. They were in exactly the same position as guests at an hotel, the adults paying £4 4s a week for board and lodging. Most of them were Government officials and people engaged in essential industries in Java. It was estimated that a total of £30,000 in cash advances had been paid out to them to-day, so ~*at they could purchase clothing and other requirements. Ration Books Issued

Mr van Eck had no idea how long the scheme would operate, although he said the Dutch Government could not afford to have it continue indefinitely. The Government was bearing all the administrative costs, apart from making monetary advances to evacuees. Food and other necessities for “Oranje” would be bought from various firms in rotation, so that they all would benefit. No restrictions would be placed on the guests at “oranje,’’ who would be allowed to go visiting and do their own shopping in the ordinary way. Each had been given coupons and ration books similar to those issued to New Zealanders. They could mingle freely with the public, and already many had been taken to homes and on sight-seeing trips round the city by local residents. A hospital had been established at "Oranje,” but if cases of serious illness developed they would be sent to public institutions. The health authorities in Auckland had offered every assistance.

Asked if any of the eligible young women among the evacuees were likely to marry in New Zealand, Mr van Eck said it was not impossible, although he did not think they would be here long enough to form attachments. The men definitely would not seek employment, as they had come to the Dominion primarily for a rest. He would not be surprised if some of them wanted to stay here, but that was a matter for themselves and the New Zealand Government. Nothing definite had been done about the education of the children, many of whom had had no schooling at all during the last four years. Children who were six when the Japanese entered, the war were now 10, and they had not seen the inside of a school. The welfare organisation had approached certain schools in Auckland and had been promised assistance.