CLOTHING PROBLEM

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 3 July 1943, Page 4

CLOTHING PROBLEM

1 N.Z. PRISONERS OF WAR POSITION UNSATISFACTORY BUT IMPROVING In a statement to-day the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. P. Fraser, reviewed the position in regard to supplies of clothing and boots for the prisoners of warUnder the Geneva Convention which prescribes the treatment to be given to prisoners of war, the enemy governments are obliged to supply all prisoners with sufficient clothing i underwear and footwear and to maintain and replace these articles from time to time,” said Mr Fraser* Experience demonstrated very early in the war, however, that unless special efforts were made by the various British Governments to supply clothing as well as foodstuffs and medicines to the prisoners theii position would become desperate. Accordingly arrangements were made by the United Kingdom Government on behalf of all the British Governments concerned with the War Organisation of the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John for the despatch of clothing to Brit ish prisoners of war. It was decided that this organisation would, for the following reasons be the sole agency, except for what may be sent by a prisoner's next-of-kin in one parcel each quarter, for despatching supplies of clothing to the prisoners:

(a) To prevent overlapping and waste; this would be inevitable if clothing could. be sent from a number of different sources to prisoners. (b) To secure fair distribution amongst prisoners of such suplies as could be sent. (c) To relieve transport of unnecessary supplies. This is of considerable importance owing to the limited shipping available.

Sufficient clothing is despatched from the United Kingdom through the War Organisation of the Red Cross and St. John to provide a reasonable quantity of clothing (including boots) for each prisoner of war. These clothing reserves are accumulated in Geneva under the control of the Internationa] Red Cross Committee and camp leaders were instructed in July of last year that they were to submit requisitions to Geneva for their requirements. We are assured that the International Red Cross Committee would in any case despatch clothing to any camp where a rea *. ™ eec * was shown, even if no requisitions had been received. While transport between Geneva and the base prisoner-of-war camps is stated to be satisfactory, it is unthat the position is more difficult from the base camps to the Work Detachments. Undoubtedly it is men in these Work Detachments who will require more frequent changes of clothing but owing to the present difficulties of communication, and there is no evidence to say when they are likely to improve between Geneva and these detachments and the base camps, it is possible that they are not receiving all the clothing they require. The delegates of the Protecting Power and the International Red Cross Committee have been asked to give special consideration to the position of men in Work Detachments.

The latest review of the clothing supplies hi the prisoner of-war camps m Germany and Italy covers the position as at January last. Although the German authorities do not appear to provide much, if anything, on ti.e whole I am authoritatively informed that the position may be considered reasonably satisfactory In some camps, particularly Stalag lIID, IVA, IVc and Marlag-Milag, it was reported that clothing supplies were unsatisfactory, while in certain working detachments boot supplies were insufficient. While advice received since indicates that the position is improving, special arrangements are being made whereby a pair of boots will be available for inclusion in the quarterly parcels addressed to men from whom a request has been received recently for a pair of boots. The arrangements are in the hands of the Prisoners of War Inquiry Office who are making a special announcement on the matter. In Italy the position is somewhat different from that in Germany. Officer prisoners of war detained there are supplied with ration cards to enable them to purchase clothing, while other rank prisoners are provided with underclothing, and in some, if not all camps with footwear and outer clothing. The general clothing position in Italy is reported to be reasonably satisfactory. “The Government are determined to do all in their power to ensure that the prisoners of war are adequately clothed," said Mr Fraser in conclusion. “It will be seen, however, that very much depends on the transport of the clothing from Geneva to the men in the camps and communications between the Base Camps and Working Detachments. But while it is impossible for the Government to control the position from here, no opportunity is lost bv the Imperial Prisoners of War Committee in London on which Mr Jordan, the Hjf.h Commissioner, represents the Dominion, to press the enemy Governments to provide the facilities necessary to ensure that the clothing and boots are delivered to our men as they need them. “It should be made clear that the cost of clothing despatched from the United Kingdom to the prisoners is borne by the several British Governments, the liability of each being calculated on the basis of the number of their prisoners of war. New Zealand, and I am sure the other Governments, owe a deep debt of gratjtude to the War Organisation of the British Red Cross and the Order cf , r^ o ] ll^, 38 well as the International Red Cross Committee, for the asistance they are giving in seeing tnat the clothing reaches our prisoners of war.”