PRISONERS OF WAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24194, 9 February 1942, Page 6

PRISONERS OF WAR

TOTAL REACHES 4526 ADVICE FROM INQUIRY OFFICE [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Saturday The latest figures of New Zealand prisoners on the files of the Prisoners of War Office in Wellington are:—Army, 4224; Air Force, 116; Navy, 6; merchant seamen and civilians" 26; miscellaneous, 20; unofficial, 134—total. 4526. Major Abel points out that the sending of private cabled inquiries to Geneva is inadvisable. Many relatives send cablegrams in the hope" of receiving quick information. Only this week a reply was received in answer to one sent seven months ago. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, to-day received a cablegram from Geneva that the Red Cross headquarters have still over 250 prepaid cablegrams so far unanswered. Besides adding to. the anxiety of relatives, these private inquiries seriously impede the work of the Internationa] Red Cross, which cables direct to the New Zealand Government immediately information is received of a man being received in a prison camp. Major Abel asks that if there are special cases they be referred to the Prisoners of War Office headquarters at Wellington. He also intimates that the headquarters would appreciate advice from any next-of-kin in New Zealand who have received acknowledgment cards for parcels sent. Any persons who have received a card or letter from any men not yet officially reported prisoners of war are again asked" to send such information to the prisoners of war inquiry offices, as it is the only means they have of compiling an unofficial prisoners' list.