PRISONERS OF WAR

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 150, 3 September 1941, Page 5

PRISONERS OF WAR

LATEST INSTRUCTIONS COMPLYING WITH RULES Latest instructions regarding correspondence to prisoners of war by relatives, have been issued from the headquarters of the Joint Council of the Order of St. John and the New Zealand Red Crosfe Society. In a pamphlet issued by the Council, everything pertaining to the interests of the prisoners have been, outlined, and for the information of readers various extracts are published. The complete booklet is in the hands of the secretary of the local branch of the Red Gross So«ietj\ Letters to Prisoners In accordance with the regulations «stablisj , hed by the International Convention at Geneva, the following rule's governing letters to prisoners are applicable: Letters should uot> exceed two sides of a sheet ol notepaper 8% inches by 10% inches; they should be posted at any post office, but without a stamp. The -Sender's name, and address should l)e written on the back of the envelope, except in the case of a member of His Majesty's Forces, v/ho must not give his address. Such a member, if he has a relative or friend to whom the reply can be sent, must give the address of that person and arrange for letters so addressed to be forwarded to him. Sample Addresses The following address should be adopted for prisoners in Germany :

Prisoner of War Post, Kriegsgefangenenpost. "No Rank Name New Zealand Expeditionary Force, "British Prisoner, Agent Central des Prisonniers do Guerre, Geneva, Switzerland. When a person is; believed to be a prisoner of war or jiosted as missing, letters should be addressed as 'follows: — No Rank Name New Zealand Expeditionary Force, British Prisoner, €/o High Commissioner for N.Z.. 415 Strand, London, W.C.2. Individuals send any number -of letters, within reason. If it is desired to send letters by air mail, this will be chargeable to the sender, rates of which are available at the post office. Gift Parcels Any of the following articles may be sent in your parcel, provided that the total weight, including packing, is not more than lOlbs: Blankets, brilliantine in tins, brushes of all kinds, button cleaning outfits (solid, not liquid polish), chewing gum, chocolates in slabs, cigar•ette tips and cigarette rolling machines (not cigarettes or papers), clothing, including underwear, civilian or service shirts, knittfcd comforts or uniform, coloured silks and . plain linen or canvas, dentifrice (not in tubes), frames with talc or unbreakable glass, hussifs the usual items, kit hags, knitting needles and wool, pencils, pipes and tobacco pouches, •safety razorsi and blades, safety tin •openers, solid shoe polish, small musical instruments, soap, face •cloths, sponges and towels (khaki garments may be sent ifi desirable).

It must be noted that grey flannel trousers are not permitted. Parcels may be sent to prisoners once in every three months, and these can only be sent by the next-of-kin, or by an arrangement with 'them. The parcel must be thoroughly packed either in a light wooden box or with thick paper an/1" plenty of string string. The of the parcel is as follows:— Regimental N0.... Private J. Blank, T3ritish Prisoner of War, No (Place of Internment) (Country) *C/o N.Z. House, 415 The Strand, London, W.C.2. A "Personal" parcel cannot be sent direct to the prisoner. Ai tieon label must be uped for the address, which must also be written •on the parcel itself. The sender's name must appear on both parcel -and label. No postage is required on parcels, and these are to be handed into the post office and not posted through the Order of St. John and Red Gross Society in New 'Zealand. Parcel Receipts If the parcel has included a •stamped postcard, addressed to

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yourself -with the postage coupon attached, you will he in due course notified of receipt in London. Coupons for this purpose may be purchased from the post office. By arrangement between the Joint Council and the Order of St. John and the New Zealand Red Cross Societ3 r , and the British Red Cross Society and Ordei of St. John, these parcels are sent weekly to every New Zealand prisoner of war when his camp address is known. ( The expense is met by the N.Z. Joint Council Sick and Wounded Funds held in London. The weekly parceis contain mostly food sent by the Council.