IMPORTANT POST

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 20, 24 January 1946, Page 8

IMPORTANT POST

i N.Z. U.N.R.R.A. WORKER CONDITIONriN GERMANY Sydney. Jan. 16. An UNRRA worker, Mr. C. N. Rahone, of Wellington, who is now director ill charge of supplies and transport for UNRRA in Germany, with headquarters at Frankfurt-on-Main has let no opportunity pass to publicise his homeland. In a jetter to a friend in UNRRA’s South-west Pacific Area office in Sydney. Mr. Rabor.e said that in his daily rounds he takes every opportunity of talking about “our lovely* country of New Zealand’’ and always wears his New Zealand shoulder flashes on his uniform. “Many Balts have already expressed a desire to come to New Zealand as soon as immigration facilities are made available,’’ he wrote. Of his activities since he left home last August, Mr. Rabone said: “When I first arrived in Germany I was given command of an UNRRA team of mixed nationality, and for many , weeks we cared for a displaced persons camp with more than 1500 inhabitants. The inmates included Lithuanians. Ukrainians, Poles, a couple of Frenchmen, and four ChinMOST INTERESTING WORK “The work was most interesting, and, as a whole, displaced persons are above average intelligence. There are several university professors, seven medical men (mostly fully qualified). teachers, engineers, etc. Those •\ho are sufficiently qualified are of course employed in the camps, which cbmprif-e two factories, two sets of German barracks, anti three hotels. The quarters are not particularly comfortable, but they compare favourably with most of the camps. Up to a few days ago the D.P.’s were rather short of clothing, but. shipments have recently arrived from all over the world, and the situation has improved considerably.

“Food and clothing is not plentiful here among the German classes, although the wealthier people in the towns appear to bo quite well off. It is common knowledge of course that during the war the German population was amply fed and clothed on supplies seized from the occupied countries. This food supply has now dwindles and with the presence of so many’ displaced persons in practically every town where there is accommodation available, it is becoming more and more difficult for German civilians to get food." CONTROL OF SUPPLIES

Speaking of his present position, Mr. Rabone said; “I was called in to see General Sir Frederick Morgan a few weeks ago. and, with a feeling that perhaps 1 was to be relegated to a more junior position, I arrived for my interview with some feeling of anxiety. However, all appears well, as I was offered my present posting. Here I have charge of a department which controls all supplies of food, clothing equipment, and transportation vehicles for Germany. This territory embraces the French. British, and American occupied zones.

“My new job is a rather flattering one for a humble New Zealander to hold, but I hope it will assist me in my ambassadorial duties of helping to keep my country in the public eye over here. We over here are proud to have been selected to do our bit in. relieving the dreadful suffering which exists in this war-shattered continent, and in this new job of mine I hope to be able to do a little more for the unfortunate victims of the war.’’