WAR PRISONERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 September 1941, Page 4

WAR PRISONERS

MISSING N.Z. SOLDIERS DIFFICULTY IN OBTAINING INFORMATION. GOVERNMENT’S CONCERN. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) -• WELLINGTON, This Day. The Government’s concern that in certain cases private individuals have been able to obtain information about missing New Zealand soldiers who are prisoners of war, and that this information has not been supplied direct to the Government itself, was expressed by the Acting-Prime Minister, Mr Nash, in the House of Representatives yesterday, in answering an urgent question by Mr Lee (Democratic Labour, Grey Lynn.) on behalf of Mr Barnard (Democratic Labour, Napier). • The Minister said that the International Red Cross at Geneva had been invited to offer any suggestions to speed up the dispatch of information to New Zealand, and the Government had suggested its willingness, if it would help, to appoint a liaison officer at Geneva to assist in recognising the names of New Zealand prisoners in lists received from enemy Governments. He added that he did not know how such an officer would reach Geneva, but the Government would try to find a way. Mr Nash said it was felt that delay might have occurred throfugh difficulty in recognising names of New Zealand prisoners. Steps had been taken to forward lists of New Zealand soldiers posted as missing or presumed killed, to Geneva, as an additional check and a means of facilitating the dispatch of information. "It is quite possible that information is not being supplied as speedily as it should by the information bureaux established by the enemy Governments." he added. “A reply has not so far been received to the telegram addressed by the Government to the International Red Cross, but it is hoped that as a result of the inquiries which had been made, satisfactory and speedy arrangements will be made for the dispatch of this information to New Zealand. The Government will spare no .efforts which will help to this end."