PATRIOTIC SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 19, 18 October 1943, Page 6

PATRIOTIC SERVICE

Parcels For Prisoners Of War HELP FOR NEXT-OF-KIN Assistance which may be given to next-of-kin in providing quarterly parcels for New Zealand prisoners of war is outlined in a statement by the National Patriotic Fund Board. , r Food parcels are supplied to New Zealand prisoners of war regularly and in addition the patriotic funds provide every prisoner of war witli cigarettes and educational books, and, through the International Red Cross Committee, pay tor the distribution of the food parcels. The Government provides external clothing, underclothing and boots, and the detaining country supplies clothing for the work the men are engaged in. Next-of-kin have the right of sending a parcel once a quarter, and if the next-of-kiu are not able financially or are only partially able to meet the cost the Prisoner of M ar Inquiry Office of the Joint Council of the Order of St. John and the Red Cross Society, acting as the Patriotic Board agents, make all necessary arrangements to see that the quarterly parcel is correctly balanced and that full care is taken of the prisoner’s known and anticipated needs. All matters of this kind are dealt with by the Prisoner of War Inquiry Office, of which there are branches in Auckland, ■Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, and do not come within the province of local patriotic committees. When clothing for prisoners of war parcels is not available through the ordinary trade channels, the Prisoner of War Inquiry Office will supply it. If the next-of-kin is fully capable of taking care of the prisoner of war, the items ot clothing will 'be supplied at the approximate cost of the material; if the next-ot-kin is not able to bear the full cost the balance will be met, and in other cases where the financial circumstances of the next-of-kiu do not permit of any ot the cost being borne the clothing will be provided free. All next-of-kin are classified into these three categories, after caretui inquiry, when a man is notified as a prisoner of war. It is felt that next-of-km’ who are in a position, to do so, desire to accept the responsibility of sending thP personal quarterly parcel which is an extra over and above the provision made through the Government and the patriotic organization.

Demobilized Mini. Demobilized men requiring special assistance are the responsibility of the local patriotic welfare committees and not ot the Joint Council of the Order of St. John and Red Cross Society. It has been found that demobilized men have been unable to obtain, through trade shortages, clothing necessary to re-establish themselves in civil life. When, through some circumstance, they may be unable to pay for the clothing, the local patriotic committee is empowered to seek the assistance of the Joint Council, but it is not thought that there should be many of these cases in view of the fact that practically all demobilized men from overseas receive i-o mufti allowance. In both of these cases the stocks of underclothes, pyjamas, etc., held by the Joint Council are available on application and payment of the approximate cost of material and the surrender of the clothing coupons issued to demobilized men. Any necessary financial arrangements are to be made with the local Joint Council committees; it the Joint Council committees assist by making clothing available, they are to be reimbursed by the local welfare committees. If these arrangements are followed, it is considered that misapprehension and confusion, with attendant difficulties, can be avoided.