CHILDREN FROM BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25607, 23 September 1948, Page 3

CHILDREN FROM BRITAIN

4 NEW ZEALANDERS MAY BECOME GUARDIANS GOVERNMENT SCHEME OUTLINED A scheme by which New Zealanders are invited to assume the legal guardianship of British immigrant children, with free passages provided for the children by the New Zealand Government, was announced in a statement yesterday by the Minister of Immigration (Mr A. McLagan). “The Government has approved a scheme recommended by the New Zealand Immigration Advisory Council under which free passages will be provided for children aged five to 17, whose parents or guardians in the United Kingdom are willing to release them for permanent residence in New Zealand in the care of New Zealanders willing to receive them,” said Mr McLagan. “The children will be under the legal guardianship of the Superintendent of Child Welfare on arrival in .New Zealand, but after an initial period of at least six months’ residence in an approved home, the legal guardianship may be transferred to the person having care of the child,” said Mr McLagan. “The responsibility for the education and full maintenance of the child will rest with the person having the child in his care, but the Government will pay the 10s a week family benefit for every child received under the scheme, and the usual income tax exemption will also be allowed for each child,” he said. “There is no assurance that any child accepted under the scheme will be available for adoption. but the parents or guardians of the children in tne United Kingdom will sign an agreement not to interfere in their upbringing or future. The children will go straight to their new homes when they arrive here. “Children the Best Immigrants” “A basic feature of our immigration police is to give preference to British persons in the allocation of shipping berths available. We therefore intend, as a first measure towards introducing children to New Zealand, to provide an opportunity for the bringing together of British children and homes in New Zealand willing to receive them. The Government recognises that from a long-range point of .view children are the best immigrants a country can have. There is a steady demand from the public for more children in this country, but there are serious legal * difficulties to prevent children leaving the United Kingdom for adoption purposes, unless the adoption is by relatives or close friends.. It is almost certain, therefore, that the great majority of the children will be available only on a guardianship basis.

“This scheme provides a wonderful opportunity for the people of New Zealand to help our kinsmen in Britain who have suffered so much. At the same time it is an opportunity to gain, through children, that particular happiness which only children can bring to a home, and to ,have the sure knowledge that one has done something really worthwhile.” said Mr McLagan. Before a child was embarked for New Zealand, the New Zealand applicant would be supplied with a description. photograph, and details of background, and would be given an opportunity to accept or reject the tentative allocation made in London “In addition, any person in New Zealand may nominate for a free passage under the scheme the child or children or relatives or friends in the United Kingdom, if prenared to undertake the care of such children tor permanent New Zealand’.

“Application forms and further details are now available at all office? of the Department of Labour and Employment, and at all offices of the Child Welfare branch of the Department of Education, to persons willing to receive British children on the terms outlined. The forms, when completed, should be lodged with the nearest Child Welfare office." concluded the Minister.