Letters For Prisoners Of War

Northern Advocate, 8 October 1941, Page 7

Letters For Prisoners Of War

[Per Press Association.'—Copyright] WELLINGTON, This Day. A number of letters which had been sent to members of the Second N.Z.E.F. who were now prisoners of war as a result of the campaigns in Greece and Crete are being returned to senders through the Dead Letter Office, and Mr. F. W. Doidge (Opposition —Tauranga). in an urgent question to the Postmaster-General, asked whether these letters could not be sent to Geneva for delivery to prisoners instead of being returned to this country. Replying on behalf of the Post-master-General, Mr. Fraser explained that letters for prisoners of war were subject, to certain restrictions, and very few of the letters which had been returned complied with these requirements. Uniforms for Prisoners Replying to a suggestion in another urgent question by Mr. Doidge, that uniforms should be sent to clothe New Zealand prisoners of war in enemy countries, the Minister for Defence (Mr. F. Jones) said the Government had been advised by the High Commissioner in London that it was unnecessary and undesirable that such a course should be adopted. The High Commissioner had reported that the Red Cross in England had assured the Minister that satisfactory arrangements had been made for all necessary replacement of clothing for Dominion and other British prisoners of war. The House could rest assured that the Government would do its utmost through the Red Cross to provide suitable clothing for our boys who are prisoners, Mr. Jones added.