EVACUATION PLAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23759, 12 September 1940, Page 11

EVACUATION PLAN

ARRANGEMENTS MADE NO DETAILS AT PRESENT STATEMENT BY MINISTER [BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION] "WELLINGTON, Wednesday The Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, in a statement concerning the 170 British children who arrived at Wellington to-dav, said they did not come under the evacuation scheme, but were children mostly with their mothers from war-affected England. They would | receive an enthusiastic welcome from I the Government and people of New Zealand. They would also quickly find that they were made to feel at home in a new land, where sympathy, sentiment and loyalty rang synonymously and true among the people. The Minister hoped the party would be followed shortly by a large number of British children to come under the evacuation scheme. The Need for Secrecy It was definitely said children were coming to New Zealand, added Mr. Parry, and arrangements were being completed for their reception. It was not possible at present to give advice regarding individual children prior to their actual arrival in the. Dominion. He felt sure that relatives and friends who had nominated children would understand the need for secrecy, and that any inconveniences they might experience as a result would be cheerfully borne in the interest of the children themselves. ' Those expecting children could rest assured that they would be well cared for from the time of their arrival until arrangements could be made for thein |to be. handed over to their foster parents. Nominated Children Mr. Parry expressed admiration of the whole-heartedness of the response by many thousands of people throughout New Zealand to the Government's appeal for homes. Nominations of the children of relatives and friends continued to be received in a steady stream. All that had to be done was to write a short letter to the Minister or Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs, giving the name of the child and the address of the parents or guardians in Britain. A surprising number of people did not give their own addresses when writing, and even failed to sign the letters, causing a great deal of_ extra work for the staff in dealing with the matter. All nominations were forwarded to the High Commissioner in London, who got in touch with the parents or guardians. If these wished to send children, and the children were eligible under the scheme, they were accepted. All arrangements were to be made by the High Commissioner in conjunction with the Children's Overseas Reception Board in London or Edinburgh.