PRISONERS OF WAR

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 11, 8 October 1919, Page 7

PRISONERS OF WAR

RELEASE ON PAROLE PEACE PROCLAMATION AWAITED There are at present about two hundred Germans and Austriaiw interned in 'New Zealand, but until an official proclamation of peace has been made the New Zealand Government can make no pronouncement regarding their liberation. Sonic of these aliens are married to Now Zealand women, and have children, aim instances have occurred where their long confinement has caused a certain nlnount of financial embarrassment to their wives and families. Dependants in such circumstances are entitled to claim relief from the charitable aid boards, who receive reimbursement from war expenses for the payments which they make. In order that those wives and families-who are in necessitous circumstances may be enabled to receivo further assistance, arrangements have been made lor married prisoners of war to be liberated oil parole. These, men. must obtain work, and the conditions attaching to their release pro•vkio that tlk»y must report to4he police authorities at such times as may be decided upon, and must not .travel more than twenty miles from the town- in which they rosido without obtaining the permission of the police. Parole may also be extended to prisoners whoso state of health justifies their temporary release, or who have dependants who are in a serious state of ill-health. Already about twelve prisoners of war have been liberatod on parole. They are all Germans, and two of them have been released on the ground of bad health.

In certain cases Germans who were arrestee: in-New Zealand under the general policy of the Government, but againit whom nothing is known, are being permitted to return to Australia, provided they can establish proof that they were naturalised there, and have obtained the consent of the Australian authorities to reside in tho Commonwealth. Up lo the present two Germans have gone back to Australia to live, and an application from another for authority to return is now receiving consideration. One of these men had been in New Zealand only since 1913, and was employed on the waterfront. The regulations laid it down, however, that no alien enemies were to he allowed to work on tho wharves, and as he had not.been naturalised in New Zealand, he accordingly had to undergo internment. His conduct while a prisoner of war was said to be excellent, and he was considered to entertain antiGerman feelings. Although this man was born in Germany ho had resided in Australia since childhood'.

Some of the prisoners of war are claimins; allegiance to new States which have been set ,up in Europe by the Peace Conference, and are advancing this as a reason, why they should be liberated. Four of them maintain that they are of Czecho-Slovak nationality, and they hnvo asked to be released on this ground. No steps in this direction will.be taken by t\w military authorities, however, until the internees can produce satisfactory evidence regarding their nationality ;from tho Czecho-Slovak National Committed in London. In May, last the AVillochra left New Zealand with a number of prisoners of war, who were being returned' to the Fatherland. . Somo. of them had the option of going back to Germany, and others had no choice in the matter, their further residence in New Zealand, whether 'as free men or internees, not being considered desirable. It is understood that a resident of Wellington has received a cablosram from one' of tho prisoners who left by the AVillochra to the effect that he is.returning to New Zealand. The country from which tho cablegram is reported to have been sent is Spain, and' it is believed that the man will bo back in tho Dominion very shortly. It is not known whether he has obtained British passports to return to New Zenland, or whether he has succeeded in proving that ho is a national of one of the New-Zealand authorities are concerned all the evidence poes to show that he is a German, and unless he possesses'satisfactory credentials when ho returns ho will not be allowed to land in this country.