RELEASED PRISONERS

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22648, 29 June 1945, Page 2

RELEASED PRISONERS

1400 EN ROUTE TO DOMINION . HOSPITAL SHIP DRAFT SOON (By Telegraph—rress Association) WELLINGTON, Friday The acting-Prime Minister, Mr Nash, announced last night that further information has been received from London regarding New Zealand ex-prisoners of war who are in the United Kingdom pending their return to the Dominion.

Up to' June 18, 372 officers and 6021 other ranks had been received by the New Zealand reception group, and of these approximately 100 officers and 1300 other ranks had already embarked for New Zealand. During the period June 2-18 a draft of 950 men had embarked and others were being prepared for one small and one large draft in the near future. In addition it was expected that a hospital ship draft would be leaving shortly. Patients of all ranks in hospital on June 18 numbered 237, of whom 167 were in a New Zealand military hospital and 70 in a British hospital, although since this date the total number in hospital had been reduced to 223.

Mr Nash said the majority of the men would have completed their arrival leave early in July, and Brigadier Park had reported that the physical condition of the men had been markedly improved by their short stay in England. The weather continued good and most of the men were sun-burned. Tennis was popular, and the men of the Hargest and Crump wings were fortunate in having the use of an excellent swimming pool. The British Army Catering Corps was setting a high standard of messes throughout the group. Rations were excellent and plentiful, including New Zealand delicacies such as tinned oysters and cake, which were made available by the National Patriotic Fund Board.