CARE OF WAR PRISONERS

Chronicle (Levin), 14 August 1947, Page 4

CARE OF WAR PRISONERS

MR, C. B. BURDEKIN SPEAKS ON WORR; OF RED CROSS The International Red Cross at Gen.eva, was a tremendous organ--isation employing a staff of over 3000 employe.es all of whom were absolm-ely neutral aiad ainbiassed workers, said Mr. C. B. Burdekin, O.B.E., in the tcourse of a talk'to the Levin branch of the New Zealand Red Cross on Tuesday. • In. the flies of the organisation at Geneva were lodged 11,000,000 indiyidual prison'er-of-war cards, and this did not include the Russians who were not members jof the International Red Cross,, said Mr, v Burdekin. Everyihing humanly possible was done to loeate prison-ers-hf-war and nothing was too much trouble. ' The privilege of seqding official visitors to P.O.W. camps was granted the Inter- • national Red Cross, which 'had power to lodge eomplaints to the O.C.'s of oflending camps, this - beir.g done in accordance with the Geneva Convention and often with immediate suecess. In spite of her otherwise reprehensible behaviour, Germany did recognise the Geneva Convention, much to ihe benefit of the Allied prisoners-of-war, continued the speaker. The Red Cross symbol was, however, necessary on all parcels to obtain the protection guaranteed under the Conventionu There was a sharp contrast in the German treatment of Russian prisoners, who, by the policy of their cpuntry in not becoming a party to the Convention, were not protected by it. The British Red Cross Society was «a huge organisation with many branches. x

New Zealand was fortunate in not having many prisoners in the hamds of. the Japanese, who were infinitely worse in their treatment of prisoners-of-war than any other of- the Axis .countrles, he said. It had been possible on about three occasions to dispateh fairly large ■quantities of f-oodstuffs to Japan, but the chances of success wero comparatively small. Through bulk delivery of unaddressed parcels to the various P.O.W. camps in other enemy •eourtries, every man commenced tcr r-eceive parcels as soon as he was captured, the objective being to give ea.ch man one parcel each week, The prisoner was, therefore, receiving parcels before his details and whereabouts were known to fiis own country. ® In addition there had been provision for next-of-kin parcels at .the rate of sne per quarter. This personal touch was greaily appreciated by the prisoners. The provision of spectacles, surgical boots and other :sueh neeessities was made by .the indiyidual comforts section of the British Red Cross, arNd also medicines, drugs and dental requirements. Anoiher section of the British Red Cross dealt with the distribution of educational literature. Requests for books on all types of subjects were reeeived from the prisoners. Examinations were conducted through the society and several P.O.W's succeeded in obtaining degrees by this means. Lighter literature and .games, and a .supply of sporting requisites of all kinds, were supplied by another section of the society. A Foreign Relations section dealt with persons in occupied eourtries, and also with New Zealanders and friends of New Zealanders in the Channel Islands. The speaker referred to the good work done by the National Patriotic Fund Board, which provided funds for food parcels and acknowledged assistance reeeived through the High Commissioner's office in London. He also paid a tribute to the packing of parcels by the people of New Zealand. By uniting during the war. the Jcint Counicil of the Ordgr of St, John aird the New: Zealand Red Cross Society ensured the very best being; done for -suffering humanity. i The speaker went on to outline the work which had come wit'hin the scope of the Red Cross Society, both during the war and the peace which followed. The work of UNRRA had been of very great benefit to distressed countries, but much yet was left to be done. Still residing in camps in Germany and ' Austria were 6,000,000 displaced persons. Commenting on the work of CORSO in China and Greece, Mr. Burdekin made strong commendation of what had been done by them, adding that we undoubtedly -owed a .great .debt of gratitude to both these countries and the work of these organisations was a contribution. Following Mr. Burdekin's address, the president of' the Levin Red •Cross Society, Mrs. Blake, called for a vote of thanks. In the absence of the Mayor of Levin, Mr. H. B. Burdekin, the Mayoress, Mrs. Burdekin, extended a warm welcome to the visitor. A vote of thanks to the Levin Borough Council for the .use of the room and to Mr. H. L. Jeiikins and Miss E. Jenkirs for assistance was moved by Miss H. i E, Bowen and carried.