FORMER PRISONERS ON WAY HOME

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 232, 28 June 1945, Page 7

FORMER PRISONERS ON WAY HOME

Returning To Dominion SOME MEN REMAINING IN BRITAIN

(By Telegraph.—l’rese Assn. —Copyright.) (Special Correspondent.) LONDON, June 26. It is likely that nearly all the former New Zealand prisoners of war may be repatriated from England to the Dominion by the end of August or early in September. , , ~ Already nearly 1500 members of the N.Z.E.F. have sailed for New Zealand, and another 1500 men are expected to leave next week. That will leave over 3000 awaiting transport. The intervals at which they leave, of course, depend on shipping, ' but the United Kingdom Government is giving every assistance, and, unless an unexpected bottleneck occurs, It is felt that the majority of the men will be away from England by September. except for those who are studying or gaining a few months’ experience in Britain at the request of business firms. Apparently the majority of the men are ready to return home after spending tneir leave. Few. if any, care for the prospects of the English winter. University Bursaries.

Some men have been granted bursaries to study at universities. They have been discharged from the Army and are now under the aegis of the Rehabilitation Board. Others are taking special courses or are detached temporarily to study for their professions or trades. They will be recalled when their passage to New Zealand is due. If, for exceptional reasons, a man does not desire to sail then, he can be discharged and return at his own will, and part of the cost of his passage will be reimbursed later. Another category consists of men who arc gaining experience at the request of English firms with their branches in New Zealand which make their own financial arrangements. The general health i? reported to be good, and there now are 220 men in hospital—l6o in the New Zealand Hospital and the others in British hospitals!. A large percentage of these have chest complaints, some pneumonia, and a few typhoid. Others are having hernias attended to, and others again are having metal removed from old wounds. About'7o members of the R.N.Z.A.F. have now sailed for New Zealand, leaving nearly 400 still to be repatriated. It is expected that they will have sailed for the Dominion by the end of September. Many of these men are also studying or gaining experience at their professions or trades, and similar conditions QPply to them as to the Army.