Headway

Red Cross Makes Little Headway Questions Concerning ROW and Internees Still Unsettled

rE Red Cross Standing Conference on Prisoners of War and Internees met in Melbourne on March 22. Repre sentatives of the Pacific Territories Asso ciation and the New Guinea women’s organisations of Brisbane, Sydney, Mel bourne and Adelaide attended. From this meeting and subsequent talks with Red Cross officials, it is evident, however, that the Red Cross is finding it as difficult for them as the New Guinea bodies to gain any satisfaction from the Commonwealth Government.

The Melbourne New Guinea Women’s Association submitted these questions: 1: Has Red Cross any plans for the re habilitation of civilian internees? Is this a matter for Red Cross or is it for the Government? 2. Civilian internees liberated in Europe come under the care of the Australian High Commissioner in England. Who is responsible for those liberated in the Far East? 3. Following on the Pacific Territories Association submission to the last con ference, has Red Cross made any repre sentation in support of the submissions put to the Federal Government regard ing civilians and New Guinea Volunteer Rifle personnel taken prisoner in Rabaul?

With regard to questions 1 and 2, the Association’s representative was informed that civilian internees were in the care of the invading army as soon as their release was effected; but on arrival in Australia they became the responsibility

of the Government with which Depart ment the Red Cross worked in close conjunction.

Colonel Naylor, of Red Cross, wh(T had attended the recent conference at Can berra with the Deputy Prime Minister, said that the Government was busy, at the present time, working on plans for the rehabilitation of civilian internees and was taking the fullest responsibility for their welfare. Tenfporary accommo dation was being arranged for all, and special accommodation for those who returned in ill-health; the issue of cou pons was being provided for; a pamphlet was being prepared which would bring civilian internees and POW up to date in current world events and it was probable that monetary contributions would be made to civilian internees on their arrival so that personal shopping could be done by them. This latter was to be provided for by the Red Cross.

As to question three, it was stated that the Red Cross has this matter still in hand, and Major Stokes-Hughes, of Red Cross, referred the Association to a para graph which had appeared recently in the Melbourne “Age.” (See page 14 April issue.) The matter had been sent to the press to see what public opinion would do.

Subsequently Mrs. Cooper and Mrs. O.

Bliss, of the Association, saw Major Stokes-Hughes, who urged them to go ahead themselves and see if they could press the Government further.

At the conference he had referred to the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles as being a force formed in peacetime as in other Eastern countries, to help the police quell native riots, etc. Mrs. Cooper, at the conference, made it quite clear that this was not the case as regards the NGVR and also made it clear that those

men who did not join were precluded by age, distance from a town or because they* were firmly discouraged by the Government.