GIFTS FOR SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 207, 21 May 1918, Page 4

GIFTS FOR SOLDIERS

THE RULES TO BE OBSERVED.. Some questions regarding gifts for soldiers aro asked' by a correspondent, who states that the rules to be observed in tho preparation and dispatch of parcels aro not generally understood. The information that has been published on the subject, ho says, is "contradictory, or at least very confusing." There are no prohibitions as far as parcels posted to soldiers on active service are concerned. Tho Imperial Government has issued a long list of articles that mny not be imported, into the United Kingdom and that, consequently, may not be sent through the post to civilians in Great Britain. But these restrictions do- not apply to soldiers on active service. Parcels posted from New Zealand to members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces may contain gifts of any kind provided that the packing is secure. The correspondent complains that ho has been refused free railway carriage for parcels of lwoks, etc., for the use of soldiers on transports. Tho rnle is that these parcels must be 6ent through tho patriotic societies or other channels recognised by the Internal Affairs Department. They are sent by the patriotio societies to "the Under-Secretary for Internal Affairs, and are handed over by his officers to the Defence authorities, the Department paying tho freight chargee. These parcels are not to bo addressed to individual soldiers. ' Tho Internal Affairs Department takes responsibility alao for the dispatch of cases and parcels prepared by patriotic and Bed Cross societies for hospitals and for units at the front. The organisations which undertake the preparation of. gitta of this kind -understand the conditions, and the system has worked well. The parcels are addressed to units, not to individuals. . .' Then thero are the parcels intended for departing soldiers aboard transports. These parcels are to be sent to Captain Bilton, Transport Officer, K Shed, Wellington. They must not contain alcoholio liquor, hut there are no other restrictions that need trouble the donors Ihe parcels are eent aboard the chips at the right time, and handed to the addressees after departure.