CARE OF BRITISH CHILDREN

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 239, 4 July 1940, Page 10

CARE OF BRITISH CHILDREN

Details Of Migration Scheme AT ADVANCED STAGE

(British Official Wireless and Press Assn.) LONDON, July 2.

The grouping of hundreds of children for evacuation to the Dominions has reached a stage whereby a number of parents will be notified tomorrow that their children have provisionally been accepted. The Undersecretary for the Dominions, Mr. Geoffrey Shakespeare, was announcing the latest details of the scheme in the House of Commons as German bombers again crossed the coast in a daylight raid.

Mr. Shakespeare said that parents would send children at their own risk. They must choose between the risk of the voyage and the risk of staying in this country.

“Our object,” lie said “is to proceed as quickly as human ingenuity can devise, but we shall not dispense with the precautions for the safety and welfare of the children. Doctors appointed by the Dominion High Commissioners will give a personal medical examination of every child, and doctors, nurses, and chaplains will accompany every ship. The children will be regularly taught about conditions in the Dominions, and on their arrival will be accommodated in hostels which will serve as clearing houses. Children for Soldiers. “We are importing fighting men from the Dominions and we are exporting to the Dominions the best of our children. For it is a double blessing. The Mother Country will be for ever in tiic debt of her daughter Dominions.” Mr. Shakespeare said that children from whatever school they came would proceed in the same ship without distinctions. If they passed the schoolleaving age special arrangements would be made to find employment for them. The Government scheme would not cover a suggested plan for children going to certain schools in Canada which had links with British schools under an arrangement where the parents paid fees into a trust fund, which would be blocked for the duration of the war as the Government had agreed there should be no privileged classes in its scheme. With regard to a suggestion for the evacuation overseas of schools, as a whole unit., the Government was fundamentally' opposed to any such policy.

While giving details of the voyage arrangements, Mr. Shakespeare mentioned the receipt of £5OO from a Canadian lady, which would be spent for clothing, games and books for use on the journey. z Liaison Officers.

Mr. Shakespeare announced that Mr. George Gibson, who is well known in trades union circles for his knowledge of migration, lias been appointed to advise the Children’s Overseas Reception Scheme on labour questions connected witli the migration. Mr. Tom Henderson, who is equally well known in Scotland, will act as liaison' officer between the C.O.R.S. and Scottish organizations.

Applications have been received from local authorities in England and W'ales regarding over 40,000 children attending grant-aided schools, and there have also been about 12,000 applications direct from parents. Liaison officers will be appointed to the staffs of the Dominion High Commissioners. ARRIVAL IN BRITAIN Polish And Czech Units (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, July 2. The War Minister, Mr. Anthony Eden, told the House of Commons that units of the Polish and Czech armies had arrived in Britain and were being reorganized. These units were very welcome reinforcements in the struggle against the common enemy. M. PAUL-BONCOUR GOES TO AMERICA LISBON, July 2. The former French Premier, M. Paul-Boncour, has gone to America by the Clipper. FRENCH APPOINTMENT IN BRITAIN LONDON, July 2. General de Gaulle has appointed M. Andre Labarthe Director-General of all French services in Britain _ connected with armaments and scientific research.