THE FATHER OF THE PRISONERS OF WAR.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 17544, 10 April 1919, Page 3

THE FATHER OF THE PRISONERS OF WAR.

(From the "Chronicles of the N.Z.E.F.")

Among a certain number of men \o whom the deepest gratitude of the Expeditionary Force Is due is Mr .C J. Wray, erstwhile of Wanganui, who has had charge of the New Zealand Prisoners' of War Department of the High Commissioner's Office. Early in the war he was with the War Contingent, his energies greatly assisting tliat organisation on its wonderfully efficient career. Then the High Commissioner placed him in charge of the prisoners of war, both of New Zealand units and

the Navy "ami the Mercantile Marine, and his initiative and thoroughness have been entirely responsible for the New Zealanders having had a better time as prisoners than most men. Never has a single way been left unexploited which might lead to better conditions for them. For months it was thankless work', thousands of pouuds' worth of clothing and parcels disappearing into the unknown without any indication of whether tVy were feeding the enemy or our own men. But a>t length graceful acknowledgements came by the score, and manjr of the returning prisoners say that Mr Wray's work has been the saving of their lives. Miss E. Wray has greatly assisted her brother-in-law, and the whole staff have worked as hard-as health woui.l allow and late into the night, no that nothing might he left undone which could possibly alleviate the hard prison life. These are the weeks of their reward, for day after day the men they had' come to know so «ell by letter are coming back by the dozen and scoro. They are all met at the station, and are taken first for a good dinner, then' to the Hig;h Commissioner's office to recpive outfits of toilet things, and so en, and have a yarn about experience?. The night is spent in Russell Square | Club, where hot baili? are refreshing after long daj's of wearying travel. Then they scatter to the winds to enjoy a jolly good holiday before embarking for home. On January Bth, the High Commissioner gave a dinner in Westminster as a reunion for the repatriated prisoners of war, a.t which they expressed their gratitude and deep debt to the High Commissioner, Mr Wray, and tdie other good people who had done «-o much for their welfare during their imprisonment. It was a cheery party, and one which will be remembered. Mr Wray does not confine his activities to the prisoners of war, but he and Mrs Wray are familiar figures at Walton Hospital, where they have soenb every Sunday for the last two years, keeping the blue boys amused. * They just flit unannounced into a ward, rattle off a few bars'on a piano, and launch into a jooular Scottish ditty, or a tale of "te Maori pioneer." And so, Mr, Mrs and Miss" Wray rre three good friends of the Diggers whom they are not likely to forget.