WARM WELCOME.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 258, 28 September 1940, Page 8

WARM WELCOME.

ARRIVAL IN PALMERSTON NORTH

Well-dressed, well-behaved and well spoken, the first party of British children to reach Palmerston North arrived from Wellington shortly after -noon to-day and were accorded a warm welcome from members of the local reception committee and wellwishers. Tho party comprised ton children, all from Scotland, whose ages range from six to 13, also two nurses from abroad, and an officer of the Child Welfare Department from Wellington. Though safe at last after their long but uneventful ocean voyage, some of the children carried gas masks in boxes slung across the shoulder, while others had used the boxes for personal belongings. One little boy with bright red hair and dressed in kilt and sporran, attracted considerable attention. He had a cheery smile for everybody, and his accent immediately betrayed that lie came from “north of the Tweed.” . The father of one of the children is a naval artificer, while the occupations of other fathers are caretaker, painter, secretary, joiner, upholsterer and flour salesman.

After being greeted at the station by the Mayor (Mr A. E. Mansford), Mrs Mansford and the reception committee, the children were taken immediately in cars to All Saints’ Children’s Home, where they joined the other young hoarders there at dinner. At the home the Mayor extended a cordial welcome to the party and expressed pleasure that they were looking so well and had come through their long voyage safely. Rev. R. Warnock (who was present) would, Mr Mansford said, be especially proud to greet such fine youngsters from his native land. “We know you willbe happy here and trust that many more of you will come,” said Mr Mansford. “When you return we want you to be ambassadors for this country, which 1 feel sure .you will be.” Brief speeches of welcome were also made by Canon G. Y. Woodward, Rev. Father Jansen and Mr Warnock. The last-named mentioned that he had discovered that one of the newcomers had lived only three miles from where he himself had lived in Scotland 25 years ago, while another boy had lived seven miles away. .Three lieartv cheers were then given by the children of the home. for the new arrivals, while the latter, encouraged by Mr Warnock, responded with enthusiasm. Among those at the station who met tho party, in addition to the Mayor and Mayoress, were Mesdames It. B. Jennings and M. Aitchison, Mr J. RHardie (town clerk), Mr B. J. Jacobs (president ot the Returned Soldiers Association), Mr Warnock, lather Jansen. Mr H. L. Cunninghame (president of the Rotary Club),' and Mr J. O’Sullivan (of the Child Welfare Department). Five of the party have been allocated to homes in Palmerston North and five to homes in Feilding. In a statement to-day on the matter, tho Mayor (Mr A. E. Mansford) said that, while desirous of allocating the children as widely as possible among the various areas in the locul zone, it was considered inadvisable to distribute them too widely. When the next party of children arrives their disposal to other areas will receive due consideration. “It is proposed that the children who arrived to-day will be billeted in All Saints’ Children’s Home, the authorities of which have kindly placed the home at the disposal of the reception committee until the individual allocations are made, probably on Monday or Tuesday,” added Mr Mansford.