GLADLY ACCEPTED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 168, 18 July 1941, Page 8

GLADLY ACCEPTED

JOINT COUNCIL'S OFFER XKWS OF PRISONERS (P A.) WELLINGTON", this day. "The Geneva Convention regarding the treatment of prisoners of war obliges enemy Governments to send information about men made prisoners of war to the Government of the prisoner's own country," said the acting-Prime Minister. Mr. Nash, to-day. "Immediately this information is received in New Zealand the Government will arrange for notification to be sent to the next-of-kin." Experience had shown, continued Mr. Nash, that further information was often received regarding the condition of individual prisoners and other details which were most welcome to the next-of-kin. The joint council of the Order of St. John and the New Zeaalnd Red Cross had informed the Government that they would be willing to establish ah organisation, funds for which they had available, to handle this information and give any advice or assistance to inquirers. This generous offer had been gratefully accepted by the Government.

Mr. Nash made it clear that the first notification that a man was a prisoner of war would be made bv the Government and the joint council organisation would follow later in giving additional advice or assistance that might be desired. Next-of-kin or friends might feel confident concluded Mr. Nash, that inquiries would be dealt with bv the best available means, either through the Vatican or the International Red Cross.