WAR PRISONERS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16923, 11 April 1929, Page 3

WAR PRISONERS

AIDED IN STUDIES ORIGINATOR OF PLAN IN N.Z. During tin* vv;ir thousands of British soldiers wore ;iItl«? to continue their si tulips 'lty being supplied with the necessary hooks. The originator of this scheme was Kir Alfred T. Davies, K.8.E., U. 8., D.L., who reached Auckland by the Niagara from Sydney (reports the Sun). For ]8 years Sir Alfred was permanent secretary to life Welsh Department of the Board of Education, from which he retired in 1925. He will spend a holiday in New Zealand with Lady Davies, but he will not investigate education in the Dominion. ‘‘When a- man is out of oilire he should keep out and not interfere,’’"Sir Alfred said. “During the war many of our soldiers who were interned in prison camps in Germany and Turkey were going almost insane for the want ol something to occupy their minds,” said Sir Alfred, in explaining his scheme. “1 conceived the idea, of providing hooks for serious study and originated the British Prisoners of War (Education) Book Scheme. This enabled thousands of British and colonial soldiers to study during the time they were kept in captivity. “Some of the soldiers passed their examinations while they were prisoners in Germany, taking degrees with the. London University, the Edinburgh University, the London School of (.‘oniinei'ce, and the Royal Society of Arts." The scheme began in quite a small way, remarked Kir Alfred, and was such a success that tlie supply of books was increased. It was finally arranged to supply any book on any subject in any language and ot any value which might be desired by any prisoner. Requisition forms were issued to the interned then, who were thus able to obtain the books they wanted. ( Ally the best and most up-to-date books we.ro sent, and Sir Alfred recalled that In' had spent as much as £5 5s on one book, which a prisoner wanted. During bis recent visit to Melbourne Sir Alfred had the interesting experience of meeting Colonel. T. H. Owen, an Australian who was a prisoner of war in Turkey, and who studied through this scheme. . , . “I had a. special bookplate placed in each book.’" Sir Alfred recalled, “and in order fo ensure quick transit a notice in five different languages was attached to every parcel.” Sir Alfred Davies received Ins knighthood for tliis war work.. He has been on a visit to a son who lives in Melbourne. and after Spending a holiday in New Zealand be will go on to New York to see another member of Ins family.