PRISONERS OF WAR

Evening Star, Issue 23862, 17 April 1941, Page 11

PRISONERS OF WAR

•• PERSONAL " PARCEL SERVICE RESUMED [I'EG United Pkess Association.] WELLINGTON, April 10. The Postmaster-General (Hon. 1 • C. Webb) announced to-day the reintroduction of the “ personal parcel service to prisoners of war interned abroad. This was suspended some time airo following similar action by tne British Post Office. The next-of-kin of a prisoner of war may now send him a parcel once in every three months. The parcel must be sent through the British Red Cross; it cannot be sent direct. Postage is free, but there aio some restrictions on the acceptance o such parcels, particularly m regard to the kind of articles that may be sent. Full instuctions iu this regard are available at all post offices. Mr Webb said he realised that the suspension of the service had resulted in disappointment to many New Zealand mothers and other next-of-kin ot prisoners of war. The reintroduction or the service would be welcomed, for it would provide the moans ot getting some personal comforts to those gallant men who unfortunately had fallen into enemy hands'or had been interned in enemy countries. .. . Jt was pointed oiit by Mr Webb that parcels for prisoners of war might take four or five months to reach their destination. “ Information supplied by the New Zealand Red Gross Society, which has given valuable assistance in the matter,” Mr Webb said, “ reveals that the parcels are sent by the British (Red Cross to Lisbon, thence by sea to Marseilles, and by a convoyed train to Geneva, from where the parcels are distributed. Senders in New Zealand should, therefore, not be perturbed if a parcel addressed to a prisoner of war is not received by the addressee within five months of the time of posting.