British Boys and Girls Leave for Home

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 192, 15 August 1945, Page 4

British Boys and Girls Leave for Home

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 14. British boys and girls who have been resident in New Zealand during the war years are uoav returning to their homes iu Great Britain and the first party of about 40 was farewelled before sailing from Wellington recently by Sir Patrick Duff, High Commissioner for the United Kingdom in New’ Zealand. Some of the foster-parents had to come from the far north to see their charges safely embarked. Most of the children and also those who had grown beyond childhood expressed deep regret at leaA - ing and practically all of them had packed New Zealand gifts for their parents. Before embarking a committee of five girls and four boys was set up to look after all the social and educational arrangements during the \oj'age. The private finances of the party were to be managed by two of the girls who haA*c been working in banks. As the travellers passed up the gangway the Wellington Waterside Junior Band played a Maori farewell song and individual groups linked arms to the final strains of "Auld Lang Syae. ” Sir Patrick Duff paid a tribute to all those who had taken an interest in the wellbeing of the evacuees, to the schools and their staffs and the Child Welfare branch and many others, to whom he also expressed the British Government’s gratefulness.