DUTCH NATIONALS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21947, 15 February 1946, Page 2

DUTCH NATIONALS

DOMINION VISIT SCHEME EXPLAINED MORE DRAFTS TO COME (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Feb. 15. It was not possible at present to estimate how many Dutch nationals would be evacuated from the Netherlands East Indies to spend a period of recuperation in New Zealand, stated the ViceConsul for the Netherlands at Auckland, Mr. H. F. van Eck. When (he arrangements were first made toward ihe end of last year it was expected that 3000 would come to the Dominion, but shipping difficulties had upset the original plans. At first it had been decided that drafts of about 500 or 600 evacuees would arrive at intervals of a month and would stay here for from four to six months. Owing to the shortage of shipping, mainly due to the fact that 11 Dutch vessels had been held up in Australia through the waterside workers declaring them “black," drafts would be despatched whenever a transport was offering. The hospital ship Tasman, which had brought the first draft of 450 men, women and children on Wednesday, would return with approximately another 600 in a month’s time. M. van Eck said it was estimated that Ihe majority of the evacuees would be fit to return home after spending four months in New Zealand, but the stay would be extended to six months in cases where the doctors thought it was justified. Will Be Sent Back To Java At the end of their period of recuperation the people would be sent directly back to Java. No arrangements had yet been made for the return of the draft that arrived on Wednesday. Of the 450 now at “Oranje,” the Netherlands East Indies welfare organisation's transit centre at Remuera, only 150 would stay in Auckland. They were in exactly the same position as guests at an hotel, the adults paying the sum of £4 4s a week for board and lodging. Most of them were Government officials and people engaged in essential industries in Java. It was estimated that a total of £30,000 in cash advances had been paid out to them yesterday so that they could purchase clothing and other requirements. M. van Eck had no idea how long the scheme would operate, although he said the Dutch Government could not afford to have it continue indefinitely; The Government was bearing all the administrative costs. Apart from making monetary advances to the evacuees, food and other, necessities for “Oranje” would be bought from various firms in rotation so that they all would benefit. No restrictions would be placed on the guests at “Oranje.” who would be allowed to go visiting and do their oWn shopping in the ordinary way .Each had been given coupons and ration books similar to those issued to New Zealanders. They could mingle freely with the public, and already many had been taken to homes and on sight-seeing trips around the city by local residents. " Every Medical Assistance

A hospital had been established at “Oranje,” but if cases of serious illness developed they would be sent to public institutions. The health authorities in Auckland had offered every assistance. Asked if any of the eligible young women among the evacuees were likely to marry in New Zealand, M. van Eck said it was not impossible, although he did not think they would be here long enough to form attachments. The men definitely would hot seek employment, as they had come to the Dominion primarily for a rest. He would not be surprised if some of them wanted to stay here, but that was a matter for themselves and the New Zealand Government. Nothing definite had been done about the education of the children, many of whom had had no schooling at all during the past four years. Children who were six when the Japanese entered the war were now 10 and they had not seen the inside of a school. The welfare organisation had approached certain schools in Auckland and had been promised assistance.