REHABILITATION OF PRISONERS

Southland Times, Issue 25673, 16 May 1945, Page 7

REHABILITATION OF PRISONERS

ARRANGEMENTS MADE IN BRITAIN (P.A.) WELLINGTON, May 15. A special committee has been set up in England to deal with the educational rehabilitation of New Zealand prisoners of war. The Minister of Rehabilitation (Mr Skinner) said today that Major-General H. K. Kippenberger and Dr R. M. Campbell, secretary to the High Commissioner, Mr W. J. Jordan, represented the Rehabilitation Board on this committee. Arrangements have been made with British universities for New Zealand personnel to take short courses at these centres of learning. It is also hoped it will be possible to make arrangements with certain trade firms to provide refresher courses for men awaiting passage home. . . . The Minister said the rehabilitation of prisoners of war had to be preceded by a period during which the prisoner reorienated himself. Many prisoners had been cut off from their own country for four years and it took them some tiine to bring themselves up to date, so that they were in a position to join in the discussions of their more fortunate comrades. It has been found that the released prisoner’s progress depended on how rapidly he secured sufficient information to enable him to take part in conversations about current matters with his friends—and later with his family. The ultimate rehabilitation work was not hurried. The problem of each man varied' and had to be handled according to individual circumstances. Pamphlets, lectures and informal group discussions were used for spreading information and advice, and it was always emphasized that successful rehabilitation depended largely on the individual’s desire to help himself. Many of the prisoners had spent their leisure time in the prison camps in study, and follow up work was being provided where required.

The Minister said he wanted to emphasize that handling prisoners of war was not a rush job. When the men returned to New Zealand there would still be much to be done to assist their readjustment and everyone could play a part by appreciating the men’s problems.