CASUALTIES IN 2nd N.Z.E.F.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 20 October 1942, Page 2

CASUALTIES IN 2nd N.Z.E.F.

PARCELS DISPOSED OF AMONG MATES STATEMENT BY MINISTER Wellington, This Day. ‘ The disposal of parcels which arrive jin the Middle East addressed to personnel of the N.Z.E.F. who are deceased, ; missing or prisoners, is explained in a i statement by Mr Jones. Minister of De--1 fence. He said these parcels 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 had been adopted ! since the first casualties in Greece, and I is to be followed in the case of tobacco addressed to casualties of the above mentioned categories. I Every endeavour is made to distri- ! bute parcels to wounded addresses, and ! few go astray, but when a soldier has been returnedto New Zealand any parcel 1 for him is also sent to his late unit. The Minister said the suggestion that ; such parcels should be sent to the Red I Cross for distribution to prisoners of ! war was impracticable because the j number of parcels for prisoners monthly |is limited, and there would thus be an j accumulation and wastage of parcels. It is considered that senders would far rather the contents be distributed , amongst the addressees’ mates than that they should be sent back. Any j article of sentimental value or for which 'there appeared to be any particular (reason for return was invariably posted ba.-k to the sender—P.A.