NEXT-OF-KIN PARTY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 54, 1 September 1943, Page 8

NEXT-OF-KIN PARTY

REPATRIATED MEN ATTEND

The announcement that there were to be repatriated prisoners-of-war from Italy at the gathering arranged by the Women's Section, Wellington R.S.A., for relatives of prisoners-of-war drew an unusually large crowd and the National Club, where the gathering was held yesterday afternoon, was packed to the doors. Mr. Abel, of the Prisoners of War Inquiry Office, welcomed the men. He said that he himself had interviewed many repatriated men with the object of iinding out all he could about conditions in the camps, but they were very reticent and all the information he had obtained he had had to "drag out of them." One thing he had discovered, however, was the reason why the tins of food :.ent in the Red Cross prisoners-of-war parcels were punctured when the men received them. This had been puzzling the Inquiry Office, bvit the explanation as given by the returned men was simple. It was done to prevent the prisoners from storing food for purposes of escape. The reason men were so often moved to new camps was also simple. It was to - prevent them- from becoming too friendly with the Italian, guards. HOLDING BACK PARCELS. In regard to the holding back of parcels for Italy on account of the present situation in that country, Mr. Abel said that the Prisoners of War Office had received a cable from London suggesting that the parcels be sent on there to be held in readiness to dispatch to the prisoners of war when it seemed advisable. Mr. Abel said he thought it would be better, however, to wait a day or two longer before deciding to do this as developments in Italy were certain to come within a few days, or even hours, and it was just possible that our men might be released, although he did think that in regard to Italy, it was the Germans we now had to deal with. Mrs. C. H. Weston, president of the Women's Section of the Wellington R.S.A., and Mrs. Graham Parkinson were the hostesses, and among others who assisted with the entertainment of the guests were Lady Lake, Mrs. E. Puttick, and Mrs. C. O. Bell, wife of the Dominion president of the R.S.A. The rooms, which the club had made available for the party, were beautifully decorated with spring flowers. Whilst the tea, which was provided by the Women's Section R.S.A., was being served the repatriated men were the centre of interest and in a few cases were able to deliver verbal messages from men-still in Italy.

ORAL