DELIVERY OF GIFT PARCELS FOR BRITAIN

Chronicle (Levin), 10 September 1946, Page 5

DELIVERY OF GIFT PARCELS FOR BRITAIN

WELLIXGTOX, Hept. 9. In response to the Government 's request for information about the reported conliseation oi" gil't parcels for jiersons in the Cnited Kingdom, the Xew Zealand lligh Commissioner in London lias conlirmed statements alreadv published that oul of several millions of gift ]iarcels received in Britain from all soiirces during the first five nionlhs of this year, only 125 luid been seized and lianded over to approved charitable or-ganisations, for an infringeinent of tlie regulations. Furthennore, only a verv small mnnber of confiseated |>arcels came from Xew Zealand, said the Poshmister-General, Hon. P. G. Webb, tonight. The British authoril ies assured the Uigh Commissioner that the regulat ioii.s were inter-1 preted in the mosL liberal and generous! manner possible and .even if a parcerj were seized tlie addressee was notified in writing and giveu an opportunity of applying to hapori i( under licenee. Mr. Webb said there was no reason to suppose that failures in deliverv due to pilfering or inabilitv to deliver as addressed, were any .more frequently proportionately than in normal tinies. In any case Xew Zealanders need have no,1 fear of conliseation of their parcels if they observed the regulations laid. down. Mr. Webb said that allhoughj parcels were forwarded bv every possible vessel, they might easily take up J , to nine weeks to reacli the addressee. ;