PRISONERS' LETTERS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 191, 10 December 1941, Page 5

PRISONERS' LETTERS

COMMUNICATION FROM CAPTIVE

SOLDIERS

REPLY TO WHAKATANE

SUGGESTION

Recently the Whakatane Patriotic Committee wrote to the National Patriotic Fund Board regarding the paj'inent of postage oil letters from prisoners of war. The matter was taken up with the Director General of the Post and Telegraph Department who lias replied as follows: —-

"In reference to your letter, written on the 11th November, in which you enquire the views of the Department on a resolution of the Whakatane Patriotic Committee regarding letters from New Zealand prisoners of war: I have to> inform you that the question of providing facilities for prisoners of war letters to come forward by air-mail has been under consideration for some time. You will, of course, appreciate the difficulty of opening up negotiations with overseas authorities to have such letters accorded nir transit when the appropriate postage lias not been paid in the country of origin.

"As you arc no doubt aware, airmail letters for New Zealand and other British ■ prisoners, of war interned abroad are accepted in New ZealancL at a reduced rate of postage —about half tlic rate applicable to letters addressed to civilians; and an air-mail letter-card for prisoners of war for tansmission by air throughout from New Zealand to Portugal is available at the exceedingly cheap rate of Is Gd. This Administration has done everything possible to ensure quick communication with prisoners of war from this end but it is not within its power at present to arrange for free or even a cheap rate of postage for airmail letters posted from the enemy end. "However, I am pleased to say that the whole question of air-mail communication to and from prisoners of war is under review and it is hoped that some arrangement will be arrived at before long which will enable New Zealand prisoners <nt enable New Zealand prisoners of war to avail themselves- of certain of the air-mail services at a reasonabb' low rate of postage."