WAR PRISONERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 April 1942, Page 4

WAR PRISONERS

NEW ZEALANDERS IN ITALY & GERMANY TOTAL OF 7,500 INFORMATION REGARDING PARCELS. LETTERS RECEIVED IN LONDON. (Special P.A. Correspondent.) (Received This Day, 12.10 p.m.) LONDON, April 9. ‘ New Zealand House has learned that

there are 7,500 New Zealand prisoners of war in Italy and Germany. Corporal John Quinlan, of Rotorua, who is a prisoner at Stalag 88, reported from Germany that next of kin parcels sent direct from New Zealand had arrived “in very quick time.” For that reason, New Zealand House is sending no further next of kin clothing parcels from London except to newly reported prisoners, who will receive parcels from London pending the arrival of a supply from New Zealand. New Zealand House will continue to send parcels where next of kin are resident in Britain.

It was recently reported that difficulty had been encountered in forwarding New Zealand food and tobacco parcels to Germany and Italy from New York, owing to lack of shipping facilities, but arrangements have been completed for these parcels to be carried by Swiss ships from New York to a Mediterranean port. Mr W. J. Jordan (New Zealand High Commissioner) has received a letter from the Rev. John Hiddlestone, of Auckland, who is also a prisoner at Stalag 88. Mr Hiddlestone said: “We opened a new church on February 1. It is going to mean a great help to the chaplains in their work. Every Sunday we have congregations 500 strong, with 300 unable to get in. Services are held in the evenings by various denominations, which, with Bible study, choir practice and morning prayers, make our spiritual work full of interest and of help* to the men. All the New Zealanders in this camp are well. We value and need your prayers.”