COMING TO N.Z. POLISH CHILDREN PARTY OF SEVEN HUNDRED

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 128, 1 June 1944, Page 6

COMING TO N.Z. POLISH CHILDREN PARTY OF SEVEN HUNDRED

The Acting Prime Minister (Mr. Sullivan) said today that tl'ie New Zealand Government had offered to provide hospitality in New ! Zealand for a number of Polish refugee children. This offer had been gratefully accepted by the Polish Government and "arrangements were now ih train for a party of children, accompanied by the necessary staff, to procbed to New Zealand immediately transport could be arranged. • "The total number of the party to proceed to New Zealand will, it is understood, be about 700 persons," continued Mr. Sullivan. "The large majority will be children, and t the balance will consist of doctors, nurses, chaplain, teachers, cooks, and aimp maintenance staff. Some few of the children may be accompanied by their mothers. CAMP IN PAHIATUA AREA. "A camp in the Pahiatua area has been selected as a home for the party. It will offer amenities of a reasonably high standard and some modifications will be made to ensure that it will meet all reasonable requirements th.at can be foreseen. The camp will iuclude a church, as well as a modern school built of prefabricated sections to designs which have now been adopted by the Education Department "The New Zealand Government have informed the Polish authorities that. they will arrange for the provision of all necessary capital equipment, while responsibility for maintenance costs will also be accepted by the Government, subject to discussion on questions of detail with the , Polish authorities. ~. , . .. .. , "I feel that it will give particular gratification to all citizens of the Dominion to know that a number of Polish refugee children are coming lo this country," said Mr. Sullivan. "The Polish people have suffered grievously in this war, which they entered in heroic defence of the freedom of their country against German aggression on September 1, 1939. Since then the armed forces of Poland have fought magnificently and shoulder to shoulder with New Zealanders and their other allies in the air, on the land, and at sea. It is fitting, therefore, that we who have so far been spared the devastation-of war'in our own country should help the children of such a gallant ally. MANY ORPHANS. "Many of the children who will .come to New Zealand are orphaned; others have been separated from their parents and do not know whether they are alive or dead. The children have suffered great privations, but the conditions which will be provided for them t here should ensure that they will regain their full health. "I know," said Mr. Sullivan, that every man and woman in this Dominion will assist the Government and the committee in seeing that the well being and comfort of the children is [Secured in every way possible." POLISH THANKS. The Acting Prime Minister said in conclusion that he had received by cable from London the following message of thanks from M. Jan Stanczyk, Minister of Social Welfare in the Polish Government: — ■"On learning that your Government h,ps offered hospitality to Polish refugees I should like to express to you heartfelt gratitude for the magnij'Qcent help • you are giving to the Poles who as a result of the war are so i sorely tried and are in such a tragic position. I wish to convey thtinks not only in my own name as Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, but1 also in that of the Polish Government and of all Poles who will not forgjet the noble way in which you haviE come to the help of their countrymen! and- in particular to the help of children whom the fate of war has expelled from their'own country. Thb Polish Government has appointed Countess Wodzicki as delegate in New Zealand of the Polish Ministry of Social Welfare, and she will deal I with, 'questions concerning the organisation:, of the camp and the eventual \ reception of the children and stall. \ "THiIS FRIENDLY GESTURE" '■■; i (Special P.A. Correspondent.) R '~ 10*30 a.m. LONDON, May 31. rl atilude to the New Zealand Governm, Cnt for inv»tin S 70° Folish !*iiidVi en to the Dominion for the duration rt * the war was expressed by Madam * Raczynska, wife of the pSish ' Ambassador, at a reception by thepoi feh Australia and New Zealand sot "etv> of which Mrs- Fraser ■SSaSi est of honour. Madamp Raczynska said: "This 'frSy % wture'by New .Zealand is nnp mL i distance of the sympathy whic™the A -"ish EmPire feels lor my C°She r added t.V j»J 'a haven' of peace th? rhildi-Grt a vould be restored to health Thei ri Memories, of New Zee-. land after returned to Poland w?uld creatS %> bonds of friendShMrs Fraser in. rWy. said that New Zealand was on vly tot^elighte^ g£i ho^nitalifv in 1 Vie children. Her one lope was 7 that \they, would, not be thoroughly spo Wed, ' since everyone was taking so ° pen .interest in their ar "I Vcan assure • rou they will have;a wonderful time. ] W^have all preparations mad V The children will be very well look *d after and restored °It Is understood '^at the age of the children ranges fr IP m feven to thirteen. They are al \ refugees, and are at present in Persi V 1-eadv. to. er"bark at Ispahan when ti disport is made available by the Am «ricans.