WAR PRISONERS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 26 May 1917, Page 5

WAR PRISONERS.

HIGH COMMISSIONERS REPORT

HINTS TO RELATIVES AND

friends

The- Acting-Prime Minister has cmved the following report from Hie -High Commissioner, dated February 13 on the work of his department in reference to matters connected with tin* Fu ropmu, war and other, works of aid assistance.

Thomas Mackenzie savs- Tho oare and welfare of the New Zealand prisoners.<* war under £ry charge contunics -to . engage t iny attention to a oonsider.bleyexfenL especially in view of the breach of- diplomatic relations takea place between the lilted and Germany, as a result of the latter country’s “ruthless; ness ” in submarine warfare. I n thi meantime, the interests of British prisoners in Germany, which Mr. Gerard ami Ins Embassy’s staff watched with Such solicitude, have been transferred to the care of the Dutch Government. The Central Prisoners of War Committee, while not, of course, being able to give more than an expression of opinion upon the present position, is not modifying the scope of its operations in any way, and is continuing to send supplies forward as usual, and our New* Zealand'Prisoners of War Department is acting similarly. It is hoped that no Serious interference with the activities of the- various-. Prisoners ’ Associations will occur. ALFA

1. "With regard to the forwarding of 'parcels- to\ New Zealand prisoners of war, if we are able to get par.-els through, tile question of making nearly all purchases on this side is worthy of the consideration of relatives and friends in New Zealand, for then the packing will be of the best, and foodstuffs will bo fresh, at any rate. For this purpose money- should be remitted to this country. On the other band, the increased stringency of the blockade might cause parcels for prisoners packed here to be withheld by us in favour of those coming from New Zealand; and if the contents of such parcels sent direct to the prisoners were not so satisfactory in all respects, the result might be unfortunate both for the senders and the recipients. I regret to say that many parcels have reached me in a very battered condition, and that sometimes the packing has been done without sufficient forethought. Unsoldered tins containing cakes, sweets, etc., have been broken, and the contents become mouldy. Parcels badly packed have come to hand with cake, chocolate, scented soap, pills, etc., all mixed up, and the goods have thus been rendered uneatable, and. have had to be destroyed. I observe, too., that most of the parcels contain articles the majority of which have been exported from this country in the first, instance, and could be purchased much more cheaply here. In the meantime. we think it would perhaps be better to carry out the suggestion that purchases be made and parcels be packed hero. Relatives and friends will be glad to learn that acknowledgements of the Christmas parcels sent by our Prisoners of War Department are now coming to hand, ten having been received to date, ami the contents seem to have dven very general satisfaction.