RECEPTION PLANS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 November 1943, Page 4

RECEPTION PLANS

FOR REPATRIATED WAR PRISONERS EARLY RETURN TO DOMINION TO BE ARRANGED MESSAGE FROM GOVERNMENT & PEOPLE (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Nash) stated that a message had been received from the Headquarters cf the Second N.Z.E.F. in the Middle East stating that complete arrangements had beeh made for the reception there of New Zealand prisoners of war and protected personnel who were being repatriated from Germany. A New Zealand paymaster had joined. the ship to which the repatriated men were transferred at Barcelona, to provide any funds of which the men were in immediate need. Arrangements had been made for the distribution of comforts to the repatriated men when they disembarked .in the Middle East, while hospital accommodation, pending transport to New Zealand, would be arranged for all sick and wounded members of the party. The following mesasge has been sent to the men on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand: “On behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand I extend a warm welcome to you on your arrival in the Middle East and assure you that we look forward eagerly to your return to New Zealand. We know that those of your comrades who still remain in prison camps are bearing their trials with courage. Their early liberation will be secured by the victorious armies of the United Nations.” Mr Nash added t*:at arrangements were being made for the transport of prisoners of war and protected personnel to New Zealand and he hoped it would not be long before they were reunited with their families. '