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The decision-making processes in the Prime Minister's Department
12 February 1946
A meeting in the acting Prime Minister's office
During the Prime Minister's absence, the acting Prime Minister, Walter Nash (a future Prime Minister), chaired a meeting to discuss the children's future. The following shows a general discussion on the tabled reports, and the meeting's recommendations and conclusions. The minutes reveal the difference of opinion between the Prime Minister and his staff over the policy of assimilation. Tertiary education was not a Government priority at that time, especially for the Polish children.
- • The present camp administration is to be maintained, with progressive outturn to civil life of selected children on reaching a certain age
- • A concerted effort should be made to break up the camp and arrange for the orphaned children to be adopted by different New Zealand families
- 1. To assist the decision making, the following information was tabled at the meeting:
- a) Of the total of 733 children in the camp, 90 have a mother or father in the camp with them, 218 have at least one parent overseas, while the balance of 425 are orphans.
- b) Parents who reside at the camp are employed as teachers, cooks, etc c) Permits to enter Zealand have been granted to 24 additional parents, who represent 56 children.
- d) The orphans' ages are as follows:
Age Boys Girls Under 10 39 48 11-15 130 117 16+ 10 81 - e) All parents are to come to New Zealand if they wish. The majority are with the Polish forces in Italy and they probably consider it impossible for them to return to Poland. The natural refuge therefore is in New Zealand. That would leave only the orphans to be cared for.
- f) A policy of progressive assimilation of these children in New Zealand life would seem best. The Polish authorities resist this. Adoption and boarding out to be carried out as soon as Mr Zaleski, the new Polish Delegate, arrives from London.
- 2. Present arrangements:
- a) During 1945 – their first full year in New Zealand – nine children attended schools outside the camp, though 47 vacancies were offered in schools. Some Polish adults are resisting exposing the children to New Zealand influences.
- b) This year, 67 vacancies in schools have been offered and accepted. The following are going out into employment:
In addition, eight boys are employed under expert tuition in boot and shoe repair at the camp.Hospitals 10 Farming 6 Hairdressing 4 Dressmaking 7 Home aid 6-12 Tailoring 7 Engineering trades 10 - c) This programme will succeed only when the school syllabus is revised to teach more English in all subjects at the camp.
- 3. Education:
- a) The Poles maintain a primary and secondary school at the camp, exclusively on Polish lines. The primary school runs to the seventh standard, which is usually entered in the 13th year.
- b) English is not taught until Standard 5. There were only two New Zealand teachers at the camp (at that time) and they can accomplish little with the numbers of children with whom they must deal.
- c) The Polish authorities at the camp have resisted the introduction of English into the schools (though Mr Wodzicki, the Polish Consul, disavowed this in discussions with Walter Nash in January 1946) The resistance takes the form that English should not interfere in any way whatsoever with the Polish syllabus.
- d) If the children are to stay in New Zealand, as appears most probable, then it is essential to absorb them as rapidly as possible into New Zealand life, while affording them the opportunity to retain their Polish associations and identity. It is therefore suggested that:
- i) The syllabus in the camp should be reviewed by the New Zealand education authorities
- ii) The syllabus should adopt English as the main subject to afford the children a reasonable opportunity when they enter New Zealand life. This could be arranged as to give bias to Polish subjects, eg, historypage 316
- iii) While it is desirable to defer the final action on syllabus changes, the survey should be undertaken as soon as possible. It may then be discussed with Mr Zaleski, the new Polish Delegate, when he arrives, or if the need is pressing, to be taken up directly with London
- 4. Of the 67 children going to Catholic schools this year, the larger proportion will be boarded in private Catholic homes. Dr Kavanagh has asked whether the Interim Treasury Committee can meet the cost of private board and school uniforms, and the meeting suggested a sum of 30s per week. The question of payment for board in Catholic convents did not arise.
- 5. Board of guardians:
- a) The Supreme Court of New Zealand without any adequate consultation with the New Zealand Government initially appointed the board. While this may have been an embarrassment, it functioned usefully and has assisted the camp commandant.
- b) The board's functions are not precisely defined. It acts as the orphaned children's guardian and therefore has legal status. Countess Wodzicka stated that she considered the board's functions were advisory, though Walter Nash stated that the primary responsibility rested with the New Zealand Government.
- c) The camp commandant should be appointed to the board, though earlier this recommendation was not unanimous.
- d) Mr Zaleski, the Polish Delegate, should be appointed by the Supreme Court and be responsible to the New Zealand Government.
The above recommendations were presented to Prime Minister Peter Fraser on his return from overseas, and his final decisions are contained in the minutes of a meeting held on 1 June 1946, summarised below.
The Prime Minister's decisions
At a meeting on 1 June 1946
Present were Prime Minister Peter Fraser, members of his department, the camp commandant and Mr Zaleski, the new Polish Delegate. The meeting confirmed that the New Zealand Government accepted full financial and administrative responsibility for the Polish children in New Zealand.
The original intention was that the children were to remain in New Zealand for the duration of the war and a reasonable time thereafter, and then return to Poland. It was on this understanding that the camp at Pahiatua was page 317established as a Polish centre. With the emergence of the present government and the great change of affairs in Poland, the position has altered and it may be that a large proportion of the children will not wish to return to their native country.
The Prime Minister confirmed his previous assurance that those who elect to stay permanently in New Zealand will be welcomed, while those who choose to return to Poland will be given every assistance to do so. Though the camp will be maintained as long as the interests of the children require, it was desirable to consider the date on which it will be abandoned, but will remain open for a further two years.
The Prime Minister said it seemed unlikely that a return to Poland could be contemplated, in view of the internal situation in Poland, at any time in the near future. Therefore, it is very much in the children's interests if they could henceforth be trained to take their place on equal footing with the New Zealand children. This would safeguard their interests if they elected to remain here permanently.
- • The children would be able to return to Poland at a later date
- • It was desirable, in the children's interest, that the camp be kept open until all the children completed their primary education
- • The Poles themselves did not desire the adoption of Polish children by New Zealand foster parents
- 1. Though the camp would be maintained as long as the interest of the children require, it was desirable to consider the date on which it should be abandoned. It appears that in any event it must remain open for the further two years.
- 2. The Army Department will be responsible for the routine administration of the camp but questions of policy will be referred to the Prime Minister's Department for decision.
- 3. The camp commandant will be responsible for the Army Department.
- 4. The Polish Delegate will represent all the Polish interests to the camp commandant.
- 5. Polish employees will be regarded as employees of the New Zealand Government.
- 6. Their salaries will be at comparable New Zealand rates.
- 7. Polish children's pocket money will be the same as for New Zealand children.
- 8. Parents of Polish children will take over the care of their own children.page 318
- 9. The Polish employees will be subject to normal taxation rules.
- 10. A board of guardians may yet be appointed.
- 11. It is to be decided if the Child Welfare Branch, or someone else, is to supervise the children who live away from the camp.
- 12. The question of secondary education is to be examined by the Education Department. If it is impractical for the children who have completed their Polish primary education to be absorbed into Roman Catholic or sate secondary schools, consideration will be given for additional secondary school facilities in the camp and to bring the existing school in line with New Zealand secondary school standards.