ARMED forces

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 193, 31 July 1940, Page 3

ARMED forces

-ADVICE ON COMFORTS BOOKLET PUBLISHED Within the forty-eight pages of the neat and attractively compiled booklet the National Patriotic lund Board has produced for the benefit of tiic next-of-kin and friends of the members of New Zealand's armed forces is set out a great deal of information dealing with the selection, packing, and dispatch of conir forts, also the maki.ng of knitted goods, and matters of a general nature that Avill be to be very helpful. An order of 100,000 copies of the booklet has been placed with the printers, but the first issue has been limited to 50,000 copies and these will shortly be made available through Provincial Patriotic Councils. "Comforts For Men in the Armed; Forces" is the title of the booklet*' On the top cover, on a clean white background, is a p'cture of a soldier in the new battle dress standing at attention with bayonet fixed, and a sailor and an airman are pictured on the back cover. There is a foreword by the Governor-General, Lord Gal way, Avho is the chairman of the National Patriotic Fund Board. In his foreword His Excellency out that the booklet will serve to remind the people of a duty owe to the men in the fighting services overseas and at the same tinte give them some idea of the gifts most acceptable t'o those on service and the manner in which the gilts should he despatched. "I am sure," the foreword continues, "we are all determined that these loyal sons of New Zealand shall be regularly sup plied with all practical comforts until the day when they are able to return victorious to their homeland. In the opening pages general information is given about the National Patriotic Fund Board. It is pointed out that the policy of the board, the eleven provincial patriotic councils, and their allied organisations is to share the comforts provided equally among the men of all arms of the s2rvic2s, irrespective of the ijr-iforms they happen to be wearing or the ranks thej* hold. Gift Parcels. Next the board's unaddressed g'ift parcels scheme is explained. Under this scheme, parcels bearing no address are sent at intervals to the men overseas so that each will re-' ceive a parcel irom his homeland. These goods are packed in bulk, and. wherever possible-, enter overseas countries as Army stores and are admitted free of Customs duty. Details of the articles required for these addressed parcels, that is, par eels sent by relatives and friends and addressed to specific members of the forces. An important point to note in conncc'ion with these parcels is that, provided no tobacco cigarettes or liquors are included and the parcels do not exceed lllbs in weight, they will be delivered in Egypt free of Customs duty. Another note reads: A small parcel sent frequently is more appreciated than a larg3 one occasionally, Suggestions are given of the con-, tents of such parcels and also in regard to the wrapping of the parcels Postage and cable rates to Egypt are given, also the proper way to address parcels and letters, and information regarding social security and income taxation, the transmission of money ove ssas, and the Financial Assistance Board. Other items deal with the patriotic work that j'is done in this country lor the men at home stations, for visi.ing naval ratings, the Air Forte, nurses ant deep-sea merchantman, the nature of the war work being carried out in the Dominion and the articles that are required. Ihc lunctions ol the Lady Galway Patriotic Guilt! are explained. Suggsstions for the raising of funds are given, and thert is special reference to the requirements for the holding of art union; and the making of 'presentations to members of the forccs. Another section sets out the rates of pay i'oi the naval and military forces and also dependants' allowances. The Patriotic Purposes Regulations, under which the board and the councils- came into being, are explained, and details are given ot the functions of the board and the councils. Although since the booklet was put in hand there are now New Zealand military forces in the United Kingdom, it has been possible to include information relating to cable? to England and parcels for New Zcalanders serving with the British

forces. Letters and parcels for prisoners of war is another subject dealt with. Knitting Patterns. In addition, there are general knit ting hints, and knitting patterns for socks, mittens, gloves, scarf, balaclava, khaki stockings, sea boot stockings, heel-less socks, sleeveless pullover and a polo neck pullover.; A fruit cake recipc, and recipes for shortbread and gingernuts have been included. A note from the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association draws attention to the fact that the sei-* vices of the association and its 91 branches are at the disposal of the members of the forces while they are in camp, on service overseas, and on their return to civil life J Inside the back cover are set out the names of the members of the National Patriotic Fund Board and the advisory body, the National Patriotic Council, and also the names and addresses of the secretaries of the provincial patriotic councils. . The cost of the booklet has been materially reduced by the publicspirited attitude of all conceined in its production. r lhe printeis. Messrs Thomas Avery Limited., New Plymouth agreed to print the booklet f;t the cost of paper, materials and time engaged only, and the staff of the same firm agreed, if necessary to work overtime at ordinary rates of pay. Other work associated with the compilation was done without charge, and' the cost was still further reduced by advertising space taken by heads of four public institutions. Suggestions Welcomed. An endeavour has been made to make the booklet informative and a handy guide, but it is realised that there may be points which next-of-kin will hear of that will be of further assistance to the board in its efforts to serve the armed forces. Accordingly, next-of-kin are asked to pass on to the board useful suggestions they may receive regarding gift parcels. There is one other injunction; it is that relatives and friends should write often, and the way in which the injunction is couched should make it difficult for all who read it to forget those who have gone overseas to do their bit in a hard and bitter struggle.