CIVILIAN CLOTHES

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 283, 26 August 1944, Page 6

CIVILIAN CLOTHES

Problem For Prisoners-of-

War Many people in New Zealand who have relatives who are prisoners of war in Germany are being advised by mut” B * friends in England to send civilian clothes to London in anticipation of the release of their kindred. The reason for this advice is that any rating beneath the rank of an officer does not get an issue of coupons at aU. so that he cannot purchase so much as a handkerchief. further, even if there were an issue of coupons it is a matter of extreme difficulty to purchase civilian clothes of any sort in England. This is borne out by the evidence of Wellington mercers who have dealings with British merchantmen on deep-sea steamers. They are in the habit of stocking up their wardrobe at New Zealand ports, simply because, on the English point system fIOO for a year) they cannot get the clothes they want. If such be the case then the New Zealand prisoners of war. when released, will be transferred to London, where they will be given an Army issue of clothes and certain moneys due to them , but this does not cover the cost, nor uoes it put them in the way of obtaining civilian clothes. It may be said that, having been so loner in uniform, it would not bint these men to continue wearing one for a few months longer; on the other hand, perhaps for psychological reasons, they will want to get out of battle dress as soon ns possible, as the. first step toward a return to normal civilian life. The supervisor of parcels at the Linet Post Office said yesterday that people could send up to lllb. weight of civilian clothes to a soldier in Great Britain, and that, he thought, would apply to a prisoner of war. in anticipation of his release from prisoner camp. This othciai agreed that the forwarding of such articles of clothing should be a help to Ln„land. which country cannot at present cope with the demand for clothing.