COMFORTS FOR TROOPS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 14, 13 October 1942, Page 6

COMFORTS FOR TROOPS

PARCELS DISTRIBUTION Difficulties in distributing gift parcels equitably to the men of the Scc.onil N.Z.E.F. in the Middle East., .especially when quick moves by the troops arc necessary, are referred to by Lieutenant-Colonel F. Waite, overseas commissioner for the National Patriotic Fund Board, reporting to the Board. "We find it easier to get parcels to our airmen in Malta —which we have done —than to find: fighting units in the desert,"' lie says. The men really appreciated the parcels, but the total bulk of the parcels was heavy and a considerable amount of transport was; required to shifb them. *'Whcn the Division bounds from one continent to another (the transfer to Syria and, then back to Egypt) we get into real trouble," the report continues. "We 1 cannot issue them all in one day, or ali in one week. A man may, if lucky, get one parcel on service with his* unit; go to hospital and get anothen: and. go to the convalescent depot and get a third. Another man may miss his parcel in three places. In the rapid moves there was not one truck. to shift amenities. We did not issue one parcel at the base until all other units' parcels were dispatched'. Now we are having a real circus trying to straighten things out." Although the difficulties in handling the parcels arc many, nevertheless, a wide distribution of them has been achieved. Besides the parcels sent to the Middle East, others arc forwarded to New Zealand soldiers, sailors and airmen serving in all parts of the world. Only recently a letter was received by the Patriotic Fund' Board from a New Zealand surgeon Lieutenant-commander at Sierra Leone, West Africa. His letter was dated March 2.'5 and he wrote to express his thanks for one of the special Christmas boxes oi' cigarettes and tobacco, together with an R.S.A. publication "Reo

Mihi" which went with it, forwarded by the Board: last year for distribution from London to New Zcalandcrs of detached units. His letter was as follows:— j "May I take this opportunity, belated, though it is, of expressing my grateful thanks to you and your Board for the very welcome parcel of tobacco and cigarettes which lias just reached me to-<lay? Ii do appreciate also your kind thoughts and good, wishes from the people of New Zealand'. Needless to say thej' are particularly in our thoughts in these days when the war has come so much nearer to the 1 shores of our country, and those of us serving abroad sincerely trust that you will be spared the horrors of war in New Zealand itself. The copy of 'Reo Mihi' was. also welcome. I trust you will convey my thanks to all those responsible for this thonghtful and, generous gesture." The 1 address of the sender of this letter Avlien he Avrote is evidence of the effort that is made to see, as far as the exigencies of war wili I permit, that all members of the New Zealand Forces benefit from J the lands subscribed for them.