WAR PRISONERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24144, 10 December 1941, Page 9

WAR PRISONERS

3500 NEW ZEALANDEES treatment in camps THE DESPATCH OF PARCELS LONDON, Nov. 17 New Zealanders who are known to be prisoners of war in Germany, Greece and Italy now total 3500. During; the past two or three weeks there has been a surprising increase in the number of names reported to New Zealand House of men who have arrived at prison camps. Many had been reported previously as being prisoners, but their whereabouts were unknown. In other cases,, they had simply been reported as missing, and there was some doubt if they were alive. Their names and addresses were immediately cabled to the Dominion. The majority of the prisoners are in Germany judging by letters and postcards received in London, conditions seem to be fairly good. Men in the ranks are employed for the most part on road making. Under the Geneva Convention regarding prisoners of war, officers cannot be called upon to do work, and they spend much of their time in reading and studying, although they have opportunities for a certain amount of sport. Some of them also do vegetable gardening, and are thus able to add to the rations. A Typical Letter Typical of the letters reaching London is one from Trooper T. O. Phillips, of Gisborne, who wrote on August 15: — "Our job is road work, mainly new formation, and at present I am with 24 mates in a small camp in the bush looking out on a snow-capped mountainous surrounding. I am in good health. For our work we are paid 18 marks a month, or 70 pfennig a day. We can buy a half-litre of beer on Sundays, 33 pfgs, cigarettes and toilet gear, but little else.

"Our day consists of rising at 5.40 а.m., a ladle of coffee at 6, off to work at 6.40 till 12. Lunch, a ladle or a ladle and a-half of soup or stew, and perhaps some potatoes or a piece of meat. Leave camp at 1.15, work till б.30 p.m., and home to tea at 7. "Tea is similar to lunch, except that we also draw a half-loaf of brown bread, about lib. for 24 hours. Check parade and counted at 9. Bed at 9.30 p.m. Washing and shaving soap in first parceL please." It will be appreciated how welcome are the Red Cross food parcels to supplement these meagre rations. Purchases at Canteens Many of the Germans who staff the prison camps were prisoners in Britain during the last war. This experience helps them to understand the mentality and requirements of the men now under their charge and explains the fact that many of them are fairly proficient in speaking English. Men who are given work to do can spend their meagre pay. in canteens in the camps. There is a limited range of articles to be bought, such as toilet requisites, soap, brushes, boot polish. Some cigarettes are available, but the amount varies in each camp. In some there is also a limited quantity of beer, but practically never any foodstuffs — not even fruit in the summer time. Differences in Pay

Negotiations are proceeding between the British and German authorities to allow the men to receive a proportion of their army pay in German marks. This would be in addition to the pay they receive for their work. No finality has yet been reached. In fact, there is little on which they can spend their cash. Officers are allowed to draw the equivalent of German officers of the same rank. This is much less than the New Zealand pay. A German lieu-tenant-colonel, for instance, receives practically the same pay as a New Zealand second-lieutonant. In Germany officers receive free messing, but in Italy they have to pay for their own messing. On the other hand the Italian officers are much more highly paid than the German. Next-of-kin parcels have streamed into the New Zealand packihg centre in London during .recent weeks. They have been supplemented with additional articles if under the full weight allowed, and redirected with commendable quickness, and as many as 70 a dav have been handed on to the British Red Cross for forwarding to Germany. Each man is allowed one next-of-kin parcel every quarter, and this first parcel has now been sent to the majority*of New Zealanders. In'a f,ew weeks' time it is hoped to commence thi sending of a second parcel to each New Zealand prisoner. After that the majority of next-of-kin parcels will be forwarded through the New Zealand Red Cross packing depots in the four main cities- in the Dominion direct to Geneva. ' . . Many New Zealanders with friends in Britain have arranged, however, for these parcels to be made up and sent from Britain instead of the Dominion. These will continue to be handled by the packing centre in London, as well as parcels for men whose next-of-kin reside in Great Britain, of whom there arp a considerable number. The death of one New Zealand orisoner of war has been reported to London. He was Georce E. Binnie, of Te Kuiti. He was killed accidentally while loading railway trucks. A full report was sent to London o.y the German authorities.