CLOTHING FOR WAR PRISONERS

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23858, 29 January 1943, Page 4

CLOTHING FOR WAR PRISONERS

MINISTER REPLIES TO QUESTIONS Complaints that next-of-kin of prisoners of war had to pay for necessary articles of clothing sent to Germany and Italy were referred to the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) at a by-election meeting in Christchurch last evening. Mr Jones said he would like to go into the question and see that no hardship was caused to parents. A questioner asked Mr Jones if prisoners were still regarded as members of the forces, and, on receiving an affirmative reply, asked why they were not supplied with the normal issue of underclothing and boots. He said Army stores sold underwear to the Red Cross, Which sold it to next-of-kin. The Minister replied that the responsibility for seeing that prisoners received clothing had been delegated to the Red Cross. Some next-of-kin wished to supplement this service by sending articles which they might not be able to buy in the ordinary way. For that reason they were given the privilege of buying high quality Army articles. It had to be remembered that New Zealand could not dictate what articles could be sent to prison camps in Germany and Italy any more than the Japanese could dictate what could be sent to prison camps in New Zealand. If, however, the Government could assist in any way it would do so.