PRISONERS’ WELFARE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25814, 9 April 1945, Page 4

PRISONERS’ WELFARE

MR FRASER IMPRESSED visit' to reception centre (Official News Service) (Rec. 11.50 p.m.) LONDON, Apl. 7. “Everything that has happened to us since we came into New Zealand hands has been perfect,” Brigadier K. L. Stewart told the Prime Minister, Mr P. Fraser, at a New Zealand Reception Group headquarters at Westgate, Kent, to-day, on behalf of 40 liberated prisoners of war who had just arrived there from Germany. Mr Fraser devoted the day to meeting these officers and men and making a thorough inspection of New Zealand establishments in the Margate area, including a hospital which will be opened on Monday. After seeing the remarkable way in which the reception group had overcome the 'difficulties of accommodation, labour and materials, he said he was greatly impressed and pleased.

Full Provision Assured

In a brief address to the staff and the liberated men, the Prime Minister expressed his satisfaction with the arrangements that had been made for New Zealand’s returning prisoners of war. He told them if there was anything further they needed and it was obtainable, they should ask for it, because the Government was determined, and the people of New Zealand were anxious, that-nothing should be left undone in the reception preparations. They wanted the returning men to feel liiat arriving on the Kentish coast was like arriving in a part of the Dominion. Brigadier Stewart spoke for the whole party when he said how agreeably surprised they had been to find that such thorough and excellent arrangements had” been made by their own people to receive them. It was a heartening experience to have come straight into New Zealand hands, and there was nothing in the organisation with which to find fault. The New Zealand High Commissioner, Mr W. J. Jordan, who visited the centre with Mr Fraser and Mrs Jordan, added his welcome to that of Mr F r aser, and paid a tribute to the organisations and persons who had contributed to the welfare of the men while they were in German hands. Mr Jordan made special mention of Colonel Myers, of the Red Cross and St. John organisation. and Mr C. B. Burdekin and the staff of the New Zealand Prisoner of War Section in London.

Welcomed at the reception group headquarters by the commanding officer, Major-general H. K. Kippenberger, and Mrs Kippenberger, and the second in command, _ Colonel L. F. Rudd. Mr Fraser was introduced individually to the members of the staff and the liberated party. After lunching with them, he inspected the headquarters and the New Zealand Y.M.C.A. attached to it. He then visited the main Y.M.C.A. in the area which occupies the ground floor of one of the best hotels in the town. Attractive Surroundings

With a cafeteria, sunny balconies, lounges, writing, reading, and lecture rooms, this is a very fine welfare centre. On the floors above it there is excellent accommodation for other ranks. These rooms and many mere which Mr Fraser saw in other residential buildings in this pleasant seaside resort are being cleaned, repainted, and furnished in readiness for returning parties. Being mostly private hotels, they are well equipped with all normal facilities.

After seeing the stores building, the Prime Minister and his party visited the group’s new hospital in pretty open country at Haine. Here a great deal of work preparing the building has been done by the hospital staff, and one doctor laughingly commented: “ We now know more about plumbing than surgery.’’ After Mr Fraser had been shown many examples of ingenuity. including the entertainment hall, where they have built a stage with odd bits of timber, supported by three telephone poles cut into short lengths, he congratulated them and told them he knew enough about the N.Z.E.F. medical services to be confident that the sick and wounded among the returning prisoners of war would receive the best possible care.