BRITAIN'S HARDSHIPS

Chronicle (Levin), 14 March 1946, Page 7

BRITAIN'S HARDSHIPS

SEND ALL POSSIBLE FOOD PARCELS It was rather pathetic to see how the women of Paris tried to cover their shabbiness and appear snia,rt by wearing terrific hats that were uttcrly ,f'gay and mad," said Mrs. J. Mowbray Tripp in an interview when she arrived at Wellington followiug her return from Britain, where for the past 18 months she has been assistant commissioner of the New Zealand Iied Cross Society in the.ynited Kingdom. Mrs. .Tripp attended the Eed Gross Geneva conference last October, when 52 nations were represented, and latei she represented the board of governors at the nieeting in Pans. At that time transport was at a standstill, and oue could get a taxi only for oliicial liceds aud througli a mililary perniit. "Tlien Lt cost £2 to go from tlie railvvay station fn Paris to the Grand Hotel, when you got the taxi." Tlu hospitality oi the French Eed Cross Society was extended to the visiting delegates, hui outside that uothing could be obtained. Mrs. Tripp spcnt a month in Switzerland and niotoring througli Belgium saw 'tlie battlelields, which she said were a pathetic sight. Eiupliasising the liardships the people of Britain are sull'eriug, Mrs. Tripp urged people in New Zealand to send all tlie food parcels they could to relatives and friends there, especialiy jams, niarmalade and fats. She said she was "absolutely staggered" at the food she liad seen in the shops here aud at the plentiful meals oft'ered in hoteJs. The other delegates in Geneva used to eail the Britisn delegates the "happy family, " because they wero alway's laughing and joking. She had seen miaciate't Europeaii cluJdren being orought across tlie oorder i lto Switzcr land to be restored to health. The ovnss people were very kind to the 1111fortunate children. Buring Mrs. Tripp 's stay abroad, a heque lor £3(552 arrived from Novv .maiand for the Eed Cross. Out oi iliut, Ihe Inlernational Eed Cross iost 2/3, s 111 exchange. JMrs. Tripp said at the nieeting of the board of governors 111 Paris she urged that lliere should be a reniission of exchange to the people 011 relief service for at least two or three years.