XMAS GIFTS FOR ALL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2591, 13 October 1915, Page 2

XMAS GIFTS FOR ALL

AT THE FRONT

SOUTHLAND'S SUGGESTION

A Christmas gift for every soldier al, the.front ip the text of a proposal contained in a circular lottor ylnch is being sent to every Mayor and Patriotic Society in Now Zealand by the Southland Patriotic Society. This lottor states: —.

'■'There are four methods of sending Christmas gifts to New Zealand soldiers ntthe front:

■ 1. By post direct ito tho individual soldier. • 2. Parcels ftddressetl to indivi-

dual soldiers forwarded through tho Defence Department. 3. Parcels addressed to particular units,, viz., regiments, battalions, batteries, or companies, and forwarded through the Defe.nco Department. ' ,'i. Parcels for soldiers irrespective'of whatever district thoy may come from or whatever unit' they belong to, fjjnvarded through tho Defenctij' Department.

"No. 1 is probably the safest method, but the niflst expensive, and although the Military Postal Authorities make "very effort to ensuro- delivery, the difficulties aj-e in. many cases very great, and in some cases iusupeiablo. N.os. 2 and 3—The Defonco authorities undertake to do all in their power to ensure delivery as .desired, jjut 'they make no promise, tha-t.tliey will succeed, because soldiers to whom parcels arc addressed may, prior, to, the parcels reaching tho Dardanelles have been invalided .to Egypt, Malta, or England, .and units to which groups of parcels are ed may have ceased to exist as separate units and have, become absorbed and merged in others.' It is manifest that eucli difficulties, which are bound to rjso, will in a great number of instances prevent Christmas gifts being delivered to those for whom , they are intended. Cifts for All. "Several patriotic committees have made generous provision for dispatch of gifts for soldiers from their respective districts, but it is quite certain, that these gifts will not roach, all' the sol-, diers-for whom they are intended, and that a considerable number, of then) will liave to go without.: . . THero can lje no question that the swiftest, cheapest, and most eifeptive .plan of sending gifts of any sort to pur soldiers is to have, these sent to all New Zealand soldiers at the front or in hospital, irrespective of what district they come, from or what Tiiiit they-belong 'to.. This could be achieved by all Patriotic Committees combining and co-prdinating their efforts ajid sending all gifts to tl)'e Defence authorities for issue to all ranks indiscriminately;, and it is the only' way to ensure-that eyery man will get the same as. hjs mate,'.and no orie ivill be left out in the cold. This is as it should be, and all will agree at once that all oiir lads should bo treated on exactly the same, Whether they happen to a poor district or a rich one, and whotjier their friends send them' personal gifts or not. ; ' ' ' "As it is too lato to make such an arrangement on this occasion, the South-, land Committee suggests that a 'fund should, be subscribed by the various Patriotic Societies.to provide a supplementary supply of Christmas gifts to bo sent out London to the Dardanelles, Egypt, and Malta, to be distributed to New Zealand soldiers who may not have received such gifts under tho arrangements already generously ; made by the leading . 'Patriotic Committees. This proposal is to ensure that no New Zealand soldier shall by any chance be overlooked: A§ the Southland Committee has not yet spent any funds -or. Christmas gifts, it agrees to vote £400 for this supplementary fund."" An appeal is than made to Wellington to help. A postscript ,to the'letter, states that Palmerston North has voted £100-to the fund and_ Greymouth_ has 1 wired an assurance of its co-operation. The letter has not'so far been considered in Wellington.