'Good Idea If Govt. Took Over Nansen Home’

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30146, 1 June 1963, Page 12

' Good Idea If Govt. Took Over Nansen Home’

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 31

Tonight, Mr O. Nansen, of the Norwegian Refugee Council, gently rebuked the Minister of Immigration (Mr Shand)

He was speaking at a civic reception and dinner given by the New Zealand Refugee Homes Board in conjunction with the Lower Hutt City Corporataion to himself and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Dr. F Schnyder, to mark the opening in Lower Hutt of tlie Nansen Home for elderly refugees. Mr Nansen commented on Mr Shand's statement at the opening that it would be a tragedy if the Government ever took the home over because. in doing so, it would take from the community its feeling of responsibility for the welfare of its inmates.

"It may be impertinent and immodest of a foreigner and a visitor to offer a few words of disagreement with one of the highest officials in the country." said Mr Nansen. “To my mind it wouldn’t be bad at all if the Government took over the home once it is running peacefully “Such, action would give the organisers an opportunity to start a r.ew home and the

Government could Later take it over, too. This would increase the feeling of responsibility witliin the community for the welfare of others "Let us never forget that in establishing such a home the greatest of the qualities needed is love."

Mr Nanse’n sat down am;d prolonged applause Subsequently, the patron of the Refugee Homes Board, Mr W Nash, in appealing for £20,000 for ttie Nansen Home, reminded Mr Nansen that Mr Shand had qualified his comments by saying the Government would not help unless “conditions were desperate.”

“Conditions are desperate now,” said Mr Nash.