N.Z EX-P.O.W.’s CLAIM 1/6 DAY FOR PERIOD OF CAPTIVITY

Grey River Argus, 19 February 1949, Page 8

N.Z EX-P.O.W.’s CLAIM 1/6 DAY FOR PERIOD OF CAPTIVITY

DUNEDIN, February IS. More than 150 former prisoners of war neld a meeting to protest against the refusal of the Government to pay to New Zealand prisoners of war Is Gd per day sustenance money while they were in captivity. It was stated that the Australian and South African Governments had paid the allowance. A committee was appointed to w r ork in conjunction with the Second N.Z.E.F. Association to obtain evidence throughout the Dominion for the purpose of stating a case to the Government. In a lettei’ read to the meeting, the Minister of Defence, the Hon. Y. Jones, said: “'As opportunity was taken when the reception depot was established in London, for repatriated prisoners to give full information as to their rights, liabilities and obligations, it is somewhat puzzling to account for the number of ex-prison-ers of war submitting claims at this stage for a sustenance allowance, which, as pointed out, was .never granted.” A speaker said that, the Government would not make such a payment if there was no Statute provision. “We will have to establish a moral right to the allowance, for a legal right certainly cannot be sustained,’” he said.