PRISONERS OF WAR.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 194, 18 July 1941, Page 5

PRISONERS OF WAR.

INFORMATION FOR NEXT-OF-KIN (Press Assn.) WELLINGTON, July 18 "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 prisoners' own country," said the Act-ing-Prime Minister (Mr Nash) to-day. "Immediately this information is received in New Zealand the Government will arrange for notification to lie sent to the ncxt-of-kiiT."

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 Zealand Red Cross had informed the ; Government that they would be willing to establish an organisation, funds for which they had available, to handle this information and give any advice or assistance to enquiries. 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 he made by the Government, and the Joint Council would follow later, giving additional advice or assistance that might be desired. Next-of-kin or friends might feel confident that enquiries would be dealt with by the best available means, either through the Vatican'or the Intcrnational Red Cross.