COMPLAINTS MADE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 245, 16 October 1944, Page 6

COMPLAINTS MADE

CONDITIONS IN CAMP

WAR PRISONERS IN GERMANY (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Saturday. Several complaints were made to the German authorities following the visit of a representative of the International Red Cross to Stalag VIII.A, states the Prisoners of War Inquiry Office. There had been no improvement in the barracks since the last visit, Water was often lacking, the rations to heavy workers were not issued in a proper manner, and there were complaints of vermin in the camp. At the time of the visit there were over 23,000 prisoners at the camp, among whom were 652 New Zealanders. Since the last visit of the delegate there had been no appreciable change in the camp organisation, the barracks had remained tte same, and water was often lacking, the pressure being insufficient. The prescribed rations were posted in the kitchen and it was possible for the representative to check supplies. Representatives of detachments often complained to the authorities that the rations for heavy workers were allotted according to output and not according to the time worked. (The Prisoners of War Inquiry Office states that this rule applies in a number of camps.) The cariteen functioned normally, the equipmept of the infirmax'y and two convalescent barracks was sufficient for the requirements of the doctors, who had no complaints to make on this subject.

In the camp a padre had full liberty for the exercise of his ministry. In certain detachments there were padres not recognised as such, who had to do very heavy work, jn spite of which they conducted services every Sunday at the headquarters of the detachment. No complaints were made concerning the theatre and sporting activities. The library had a sufficient number of-books.'

The report states that the detention barracks were overcrowded, particularly due to the fact that certiin prisoners had to await trial, or after trial transfer away. This was a mani; fest error which the delegate pointed out in the course of his conversations with the camp authorities. The' Germans were withholding new razor blades and exchanging these for old ones. The delegate brought before the German authorities several complaints concerning vermin in tpe camp and was assured that disinfection would be carried out.