SCHEME WELCOMED

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 210, 2 June 1944, Page 4

SCHEME WELCOMED

Hope That Some May Be Retained In Dominion Gratification at the announcement that the Government had invited 700 Polish children to the Domipion for the duration of the war was expressed on behalf of the Dominion Settlement Association yesterday by tbe chairman of the association, Mr. A. Leigh Hunt. He said he was confident that no effort would be spared to make them fool at home and help them forget the terrible sufferings they had seen and no doubt themselves endured. • The move, he said, was welcomed, not only on humanitarian grounds, but .also as' an illustration of how the association s scheme to secure large numbers of European orphan immigrants could be operated. The proposed establishment at Pahiatua appeared very similar iu constitution to the “Fairbridge’ .. farm schools suggested by the association. It was implied in the announcement that the children would ultimately return to Poland, but, as many of them were orphans and others did l not know whether their parents were alive or dead, it might later prove Possible to retain at least some of them in the Dominion, where they would no doubt grow info happy aud useful citizens. If the Polish authorities and the Government approved he had no doubt that many New Zealand families would be eager to adopt one or more of the young visitors.