DISPOSAL OF PARCELS

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 248, 21 October 1942, Page 6

DISPOSAL OF PARCELS

DECEASED MEMBERS OF N.Z.E.F. EXPLANATION BY MINISTER.

P.A.

WELLINGTON, Oct. 20.

The disposal of parcels which arrive in the Middle East addressed to personnel of the N.Z.E.F. who are deceased, missing or prisoners is explained in a statement by the Minister for Defence. These parcels, Mr Jones said, were always disposed of by issue to the unit to which the addressee belonged, the contents being distributed amongst men of the unit. This system has been adopted since the first easualties in GreecS, and is to be followed in the case of tobacco and parcels addressed to easualties of the above-mentioned categories. Every endeavour is made to distribute parcels to v/ounded addressees, and few go astray, but when a soldier has been returned to New Zealand, any parcel for him is also sent to his late unit. The Minister said that the suggestion that such parcels be sent to the ' Red Cross for distribution to prison- ; ers of war was impracticable, bei cause the number of parcels sent | monthly for prisoners is limited, and there would thus be an accumulation and wastage of parcels. It is considered that senders would far rather the contents be distributed amongst the addressee's mates than that they should be sent back. Any article of sentimental value, or for the return of which there appears to be any particular reason, is invariably posted back to the sender. v