MISSING SOLDIERS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 174, 25 July 1941, Page 5

MISSING SOLDIERS

DISPOSAL OF MAILS

LETTERS TO BE RETURNED

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, this day.

J The Postmaster-General, the Hon. P. C. Webb, issued a statement regarding the disposal of mail matter addressed to members of the* New (Zealand Forces in the Middle East iwho have been reported missing.

It was clear from reports, stated the Minister, that, in view of transport difficulties, mails forwarded ifirst of all to Greece and later Crete jwere composed mainly of letters. This meant that large quantities of parcels, as well as other correspondence, for soldiers who have been reported missing, had accumulated at the base post office in the Middle Easu

The question of disposing of this mail matter had been considered by the Army, postal and other authorities, and it had been decided that letters for missing soldiers would be ! returned through the New Zealand jdead letter office to the senders. It iwould be appreciated that inan3 r of I the letters would contain money jorders, and that a great majority of I the letters would contravene the censorship restrictions in respect of correspondence for prisoners of war. In these circumstances it was considered better to return the letters, i=o that the senders could forward fresh ones complying with the prisoners of war censorship requirements.

In the case of parcels, these vrere being opened, and personal items or iarticles of unusual value would be returned to the senders. Foodstuffs, cigarettes, writing materials and other goods would be made up into 'Standard gift parcels or delivered to hospitals or isolated desert camps. :It was proposed to keep at the base 'post office a record of all parcels opened and disposed of in this ; manner.

I An endeavour would be made to comply with senders' requests for delivery to some other .soldier of iparcels addressed to missing men,