PERSONAL PARCELS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 20, 19 October 1942, Page 4

PERSONAL PARCELS

Prisoners Of War According to the Prisoners of Wav Inquiry Office, there are now bbb3 New Zealanders officially notified as prisoners of war, and four unofficially notified. Shorts 'are now allowed to be sent in personal parcels. Service badges and medal ribbons may also be sent by next-of-kin in their quarterly parcels. The office receives from time to time letters from next-of-kin stating that their personal parcels have been acknowledged by the prisoners, but with articles missing An official explanation from the British Red Cross is that parcels are often damaged before arival at Lisbon, by sea water or from other causes. (These parcels are repacked, in Lisbon, and any articles which are so badly damaged as to be useless are withdrawn. The parcel, therefore, arrives in the camps in an undamaged condition, but with articles missing. The Post Office has arranged in future for a slip to be put inside at Lisbon by the Portuguese authorities stating that articles nave been taken out. Non-receipt of acknowledgment cards for personal parcels sent by next-of-km sometimes cause anxiety, but last week acknowledgment cards were received tor parcels handed to prisoners as far back as February and March, whereas some weeks ago acknowledgment cards had returned to New Zealand for parcels received by prisoners as. late as June. This shows inconsistency of the mails. Next-of-kin do not have to withhold their parcel till they receive a camp address, as the London label is issued, and in this type of case the parcel is sent to and redirected from London.