PRISONERS OF WAR

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 240, 12 October 1942, Page 3

PRISONERS OF WAR

RECEIPT OF LETTERS. OFFICIAL ANALYSIS. Iriformation just received by the Prisoners of War Inquiry Office from the1 International Red Cross, Geneva, shows how mail from New Zealand has been received by prisoners Details include the dates of despatch from the Dominion,, the number of letters, and the dates cf arrival in Geneva. The approximate number of letters dealt v/ith from Februarv to thei end of April (times of posting) is 33,200. The following flgures giVe the average date of despatch, the date cf arrival in Geneva,, and the approximate number of letters: — Despatch February- April 1, Arrival June 25-29, 9500; despatch March 15, arrival May 8, 1000; despatch end of March-April 4, arrival May 15-21, 13,000; despatch March 11-April 10, arrival July 13, 4600; despatch. April 7-May 7, arrival July 27, 4000; despatch March 20-April 28, arrival June 17, 1100. Some months ago the Inquiry Office made arrangements for razcr blades to be sent from England to prisoners and has been informed by the High Commissioner's Office that in August seventeen large cases of blades were shipped to the International Red Cross, each case containing packages already addressed to the BritiS'h camp captains at all camps containing New Zealanders. Provision was made for 24 blades for each man, with a margin for additional prisoners, particularly m Italian, camps. All camp, captains1 were written tO' and requested to arrange for distribution and to hold the balance for issue to new prisoners as required.

PACKXNG OF PARCELS. The repacking centres for persoffal parcels still find that a large number of next-of-kin, are including in their parcels chocolate in sealed tins. Thiscannot be allowed, and the necessary removal means delay in the forward - ing of the parcel. Chocolate must be in unsealed tins and can be obtained from the packing depots. Music is still prohibited in person-ally-addressed parcels to prisoners in Italian camps. Relatives are ad~ vised that the numbers 1, 2, 3 or 4 on their acknowledgment cardsi refer only to the number cf each. of the four provincial packing centres.' Auckland, for example, is centre No. 1. Quartcrly coupons will be sent to next-of-kin within the next two, weeks • The number of prisoners of war offlcially notified is now 6712, and there are fcur unofficial cases. V —