UGLY RACKET IN FOOD PARCELS ALLEGED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 29, 6 December 1948, Page 5

UGLY RACKET IN FOOD PARCELS ALLEGED

Pen-Friends’ Trade On Black Market

Are certain individuals in England and Europe taking advantage ’Of the sympathy and generosity of New Zealanders and Australians, to work a racket in food parcels? It has been brought to the notice of this paper that som% people are receiving a number of parcels from this country and using them for personal profit on the black market. Their general practice, apparently, is to write for penffriends in “ New Zealand and then put over a hard-up story for food. These appeals rarely fail to bring forth a parcel. One person with half a dozen : such friends, would have quite a bit extra to supplement rations. Big Profits Made So bad is this racket reported to have become that the various . -organisations in this country which .send parcels to England, have been told not to do so unless the receiver ..is known. In some cases, it is alleged, the people Ao whom the food is -despatched are attached to black market organisations and exorbitant profits are' being made by them. However, it is not confined only to England. Recently a letter was received by a resident in the Bay -of Plenty, from some person in Holland appealing for food. Wondering how to go about sending a parcel, :she referred -the request to the r Dutch Consul in Wellington. His answer was not to send the food unless to the Dutch Red Cross, who would see that it went to the. most ■deserving cases. Organisations in New Zealand :such as 4he Red Cross, Lady Galway Guild and so on send their parcels to related bodies in England, who distribute them. ■ Few Working Racket Of course, it is only a few who are working this racket but it is hard for others, even in England, to distinguish the genuine from the false. As an example, a New Zealand woman now working in London was approached by an old woman dressed in rags appealing for food. Naturally, . the New Zealander was sympathetic and ready to do something about it. She asked her postman how she could assist the old woman. His answer came as a shock. It seemed, this old dame received. on an average, one parcel a month from five different people ih Australia. She dressed for her game and managed to live comfortably ■on food from sympathetic people on dhe other side of the .world, by working a clever little dodge. ■ ' Unfortunately, those who really need the food are being penalised by these schemers. Also, New Zealanders are spending much money in providing the parcels. It would ■seem wiser, therefore, not. to send food parcels away unless the receiver is known. Food Parcels Are Appreciated However, the other more pleasing side of the picture is shown in the many letters of thanks from various people in England received by the Red Cross. A ‘list of replies brought into the Beacon office shows that the parcels are being distributed to elderly folk. 1. Egch letter contains much the same sentiments. Perhaps the one •that expresses the gratitude of the people and the feelings of envy they have for New Zealanders more than some of the others, is that from an elderly pensioner. She * writes on behalf of her husband ' and herself. 'Tongue .Enjoyed “This is to thank you very much for the tin of sheep’s tongues you sent us, which I and my husband* very much enjoyed. We had two good dinners of it and haven’t tasted anything so nice for years. I wish we lived in New Zealand! I’m afraid I shall not have that pleasure as I am 80. We do think it is kind of you to send these gifts, which we very much appreciate.” Then this one makes reference to the" struggle on rations. “I cannot tell you what is meant to me receiving such a nice parcel of food, for on one ration book it is a great struggle. Your kindness to me goes with great thanks and God bless you one and all.” Perhaps the great need for the little extra in the parcels required by some is well illustrated in the next letter. “Just a few words to thank you very sincerely for the nice parcel i of food sent to my wife. God bless | you. I “My wife has shingles now! Most , painful. I have chronic bronchitis. | Still we will not grumble. I shall be 70 this year and my wife is 68. ' We shall gladly welcome your, kindness if it is possible to send another I t parcel. Again accept our very sin-i cerest thanks.” J • These are only a few of the letters from the genuine receivers of

parcels. It seems a pity that they should suffer because of the ugly racket qow being worked by a few cheap individuals in their own country.