COMFORTS FOR THE SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2576, 25 September 1915, Page 9

COMFORTS FOR THE SOLDIERS

TO TIDE OVER THE WINTER, j In the Legislative .Council yesterday the Hon. G. Jonos asked whether the New Zealanders at the Dardanelles will bo provided by the military authoi-ities with all clothing, etc., necessary to secure as far as possible their health and comfort during tho winter; also whether they will "effectively publish .what requisites, if any, the public are expected to supply, and the most advantageous and economical means of forwarding parcels to the troops at the front ? The Hon. Sir Francis Bell said that the answer of the Defence Department was that careful provisions had been made by tho Defence authorities, acting in conjunction with the Imperial Army Council, for the health and comfort of the soldiers at the Dardanelles during the winter months, as' regards clothing, otc. The Defence Department had also taken advantage of tho gonerous offers of assistance from private committees and individuals in this regard, and a committee of ladies had been busy for some time ill making leather waistcoats, which _ would be taken on the transports with the next reinforcements. Tlio • public were advised by posters at post office's as to the routes and rates for most advantageously forwarding goods to the front.

The Hon. G. Jones said that there was some doubt as to wliat tlio military authorities would provide, and what would be provided' by private persons. For instance, lie was given to mjderstand that leather belts were quite necessary, but if the authorities were going to provide these articles private individuals would not need to send them to'the front. With regard to parcels, he said that there .was a want of knowledge on the part of. tlie' public as to the best method of sending these. For instance, he went into the Auckland Post Office to send- .V' butter-muslin shirt, soaked in carbolic _ acid, to the front, and because it was in a-hermetic-a]]y sealed tin caso lie was told the postage would be Is. 3id. Three, times tlje weight could be sent for the price asked for that one small parcel. He still thought that it would be far bet-' ter if the military' axithorities would state distinctly what they were going to supply to the 'soldiers ; at the front, and what tho public could supply to make the . soldiers as comfortable as possible.