BRITISH CHILDREN

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 90, 12 October 1940, Page 12

BRITISH CHILDREN

SUSPENSION OF SCHEME

MINISTER'S APPRECIATION

CABLEGRAM SERVICE

As a result of the postponement by the British Government of the dispatch of" further parties of children to the Dominions until after the European winter, the Government has decided meanwhile not to accept any further offers of accommodation. • The Minister of internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) stated last night that the decision. : come to did not mean that no-further offers would be accepted, but that the list had been closed temporarily until such time as further offers were required. ,\ /. "I know that much disappointment I has been caused throughout the "Dominion .'by the announcement that further parties of children would- not, for the next several months, be sent to this country," Mr. Parry said. "The response to the appeal for homes Spr British children has' been so wholehearted that there is now approved accommodation available for over 10,000 children. The rate of. dispatch, of children-from Great Britain has been -less than was anticipated and no useful purpose would be served in obtaining additional offers of billets for children until those already held have, been dealt with." : - , , In preparing lor the reception of children, said, the Minister, a very great deal of work- had been done -by the Department of Internal Affairs and the' Education Department. The committees in the various centres of the Dominion- had made a splendid effort to complete the work of .receiving and examining offers of accommodation. "A heavy responsibility .'devolved upon these committees," . M£. Parry added, "involving much detailed and careful study and the various personnel are to be congratulated on the results achieved. I am convinced that when the scheme is resumed the work will be taken up again by the committees with the same helpfulness and thoroughness." . :; FREE CABLEGRAM FACILITY.^ The Prime Minister (the R't. Hon. P. Fraser) also announced last night that as from Monday next, children, separated from their parents and evacuated from Great Britain under Government auspices may keep in. touch with their parents at reasonable intervals by means of a free cablegram facility. "One cablegram a month containing a pre-arranged text," said M£. Fraser, "may be sent by each child T6 its parents-in Great Britain. Parents so -separated may send similar" cablegrams to their children. • This free service which applies in all Empire countries to which children have been, evacuated is the. outcome of negotiations initiated by Sir Edward Wilshaw, chairman of directors, Cable arid Wireless, Ltd., London, and represents, a very substantial concession: on the part of the cable company. . "In New Zealand, each child evacuated under Government auspices (or its guardian) has been supplied with, an authority card and the presentation of this card at any post office will entitle the.^holder to send free of charge an appropriately-worded' cablegram to the child's parents: in the Mother Country. "Very appreciative references to the free communication facility have been, made by those responsible for the weir fare of evacuated children now in Netv Zealand and the service will undoubtedly help, to allay the natural anxiety of parents in Great Britain for their children in this distant part of the Empire." .-; .... .- ■' . „■ :i ~