CARE OF WAR PRISONERS

Chronicle (Levin), 16 August 1947, Page 4

CARE OF WAR PRISONERS

PARCELS SCHEME OUTLINED TO LEVIN R.S.A. Though by reason of a clause in the Geneva .Convention parceis to prisoners-of-war were marked as Red Cross consignments, they were largely financed by the National Patriotic Fund Board, said Mr. C. B. Burdekin, O.B.E., when g'iving further details on the care of prisoners-of-war to members of the Levin R.S.A. on Thursday night. The speaker, who for the past 27 years has been on the High Commissioner's staff in London, was, during the war years, responsible for tlie despatch of parceis to the prison.er-of-war camps. At Thursday night's meeting Mr. Burdekin himself learnt from several of his audience how these comforts" were appreciated, for there was a percentage present who had been at the receiving end and they were not loath to express the high regard in which this service vas held. Apart from the dispatch of parceis they had introduced a news letter, which was written in a personal style and signed by himself, said Mr. Burdekin. Every care had to be exercised that they did not run foul of the censorship 011 both sides, and there was always the possibility pf the service being stopped . by the authorities. At first 80 copies were sent out and these were rationed out to the various camps. So popular was the scheme that the number of copies was gradually fouilt up to 250, proving that it apparently filled a much needed want, but the authorities stepped in and made them cut down the number slightly. Delivery of these news letters depended mainly on the various camp commandants, some of whom refused to allow them to be distributed. However, they still sent them to such camps in the hope that a change in command might occur at the camp. The parceis sent by the London staff were individually addressed and contained no foodstuffs except a cake of chocolate. The parceis sent by the various Dominions were despatched in bulk and had not necessarily gone to New Zealanders, as it was impossible tc individualise such large quantities in large camps in which there might only be a few New Zealanders. All our prisoners received parceis and though they miglfi not necessarily be from New Zealand, they were all basically the same.