PRISONERS VICTIMS OF BLACK MARKET

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 269, 14 November 1945, Page 5

PRISONERS VICTIMS OF BLACK MARKET

SIGNED CHEQUES FOR FOOD NOW BEING BLACKMAILED INTO PAYING UP Recd. 5.5 p.m. Sydney, Nov. 13 Australian Sth Division men in Sandakan (Borneo) prison camp were the victims of an organised black market in money, when they were ill and near death, said Mr. A. M. Blain, a member of the House of RepresentatUes. The black market de. manded cheques for large sums of money from their sick and starving mates in exchange for a few dollars with which to buy food, he said. Th, go-betweens in the racket were now demanding that the prisoners, some of whom were still in repatriation hospitals, honour the cheques they have signed under extreme duress. Mr. Blain, a former A.I.F. sergeant, was a prisoner of war. "The ghouls who implemented thia black market picked on men whose cheques they expected would be met,” he said. “In most instances the victims were facing death from starvation. In exchange for a dollar or two. with which to buy a handful of extra food, they were blackmailed into signing cheques for large amounts. In other words, they were forced to buy their lives at any price the black market scoundrels cared to fix.”

Mr. Blain said he had signed cheques for more than 1100 at a crucial period in exchange for a few dollars, normally worth shillings, to buy s sufficient rations to prevent starvation. He added: “So unprincipled were the people who implemented this black market, that they extracted from me, and from others, documents which would assure that if we perished our dependants would find the money.” Mr. Blain said a demand was now being served upon him, but he has no intention of allowing "ihe perpetrators of this vile traffic to benefit from documents signed under the duress of hunger.” Mr. Blain has invited all other persons in a similar position to communicate with him. or refer the matter to their Parliamentary member, or to the Returned Soldiers’ League. The Prime Minister, Mr. Chifley, has ordered an investigation into the allegations by the State Labour Council of ill-treatment of Australian prisoners of war, while in Japanese hands, by some Bth Division officers. In Melbourne to-day, Mr. Chifley advised prisoner of war victims of money-lending "sharks” not to . pay their debts. . . "An officer of the Defence Division of the Treasury is investigating the operations of these ‘money-lenders’to determine the legal position,” said Mr. Chifley. __________