POLISH REFUGEES

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 November 1944, Page 3

POLISH REFUGEES

ARRIVAL IN NEW ZEALAND WELLINGTON, October 31. New Zealand has given asylum to the first organised group of homeless people to reach this'.country from war-torn Europe. They arc a party of 838 Polish children and adults, who have at last found a haven, after enduring unimaginable hardships. They still show vestiges of their sufferings, too, in spite- of wonderful care shown them on their journey. New Zealand greeted them with one of the mildest, loveliest and sunniest of Spring days. Nearly all the party were living in Eastern Poland till the shadows of war hung menacingly over their country. They had to flee from their homes, and for their lives . They moved to Siberia and other parts of Russia. They were a very small and nitiful part of some three million Poles swept remorselessly before the consuming tide of war. Later, they were offered a refuge in Persia. This group had. been selected at Teheran to come to-New Zealand. During their homeless, and almost cea ;e--less, wanderings the parents and children became separated beyond hope of re-union. Parents died of-star ation or disease. Many of the child en died too. It was the survival of -he fittest in the grimmest, sense of he words. And so a tragic story the -ill facts of which will never be t l.d, went on. Many of the children in .he party do not know whether their p -r--ents’are alive or dead. Many \ ill never know. There are 725 orph ns or semi-orphans under 18 in ■ 10 partv. The youngest member i- a child of 14 months, and the oldcs is a woman of 72 years. There are 113 adults, including 42 school teach- s. two doctors, a dentist, and f- ir tradesmen. Among the party are 16 single women and six single m- 1. There are 19 families of two pers< is each: twenty-one families of thi 2: fen families of four, six families ff five, and one family of seven. Most 4’ them have practically recover 1, though not wholly, in physical con. : - tion. They have come to New Zeak d as a self-contained colony, and v .11 plant a niece of Poland in this E - rainion at Pahiatua, where they are to live. The party includes 361 orph-n airls and 260 orphan boys. They wll live in this country till the time is

opportune to return to their native land and share effectively in the reconstruction of Poland.

The party, which recently arrived in New Zealand, will leave to-mor-row by two special trains, for Pahiatua. There they will go into occupation of a former internees’ camp. There are buildings suitable to their requirements, which have been added, made of pefabricated materials., surplus to military needs. Hutments have been provided for families to give them that privacy and particular social life which they have not enjoyed since they started their exile. Dormitories have been equipped for boys and girls, and there are four community dining halls. Seven acres of garden will enable this new Little Poland io become self-supporting in vegetables. Over 20 class rooms have been provided and equipped, so that the children can continue their interrupted education. The camp commandant will be Major P. Foxley.