THE "DOMINION" TOBACCO FUND

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2905, 18 October 1916, Page 6

THE "DOMINION" TOBACCO FUND

Sir, —In sending round your collection lists for tobacco for the New Zealanders in the trendies, I notice in your, reprint from The Dominion of May 16, 1916, a letter signed R. Young, Lieut.-Colorcl, Commanding Ist Canterbury Battalion, who says they are getting a most awful tobacco called ■, from tho Overseas Club, and that the men won't look at it.

Now, sir, I would just like to inform your readers that tho Overseas Club are sending tho New Zealanders tobacco and cigarettes manufactured by the welF-known firm of W. D. and; H. 0. Wills, from Australia, which is alono a guarantee of the quality. And, further, our organiser in London, in January, 1916, forwarded samples of the standard tobacco and cigarettes to 230 commanding officers at the front, with a lotter asking for a frank opinion on the suitability of the, smokes for tho men under their command, ■to smoke the samples themselves, make inquiries amongst their men, and let tho Overseas Olub know the verdict.

Tho 230 samples and covering letters wero distributed at the beginning of January, 1916, over a great variety of battalions and units—Home troops, Australian, Bormuuan, Canadian, New Foundland, Now Zealand, West Indian, otc., infantry, artillery, cavalry, Medical Corps, divisional froops of various kinds and hospitals. The verdict was almost unanimously, fcr complete suitability.

Throogh the Eltham. branch of the club we liave been senfflng away for the last twelve months £30 to £32 per month to buy smokes for cue hoys, the amount being made up by shilling subscriptions, every shilling of which provides threo shillings' worth of tobacco and cigarettes, and is made up into parcels containing 50 cigarettes, 2oi. tobacco, some matches, and a postcard addressed to tho donor.

Hundreds of our subscribers have received postcards from the trenches, and in nearly every case mention is mafle how much the parcel is appreciated.

la regard to Lieufc.-Colonel Young's letter, I am forwarding a copy of samo to our organiser in London, asking him io make inquiries.—I am, etc.,

• W. W. ROSS, Hon. Sec, Overseas Club (Eltbain Branch). [Tlio brand of cigarettes montioned in Colonel Young's Tetter and in other letters received by us was one not issued out Gere. The brands sent by us are those of Messrs. W. D. and H. 0. Wills, and are greatly appreciated by the men. As the Overseas Club is now sending those brands tihero can be no doubt of the welcome they will receive from our troops.]