SOLDIERS' PARCELS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 April 1918, Page 4

SOLDIERS' PARCELS.

CANTERBURY BOY’S ADVICE.

Writing from France to his mother, Mrs, T. A. Hamilton, the Vicarage, Fondalton, Gunner Stephen Hamilton defers at some length to the matter of parcels for men at the front. He says that each man received a parcel from the Lady Liverpool Fund, Christcrurch, and right glad we are all to get them, for milk and cocoa anl tinned goods wore greatly wanted. “We hope,” says the writer, “that t.lie Christchurch people are not going to follow in the steps of the Auckland Patriotic Society, and send money instead of the ever welcome ‘ bukshce parcel.’ One officer who returned to Auckland persuaded that Patrioic Society to send out gilts of money to battalion and battery f unds but from our point of view that is absolutely no use to us, for even, if we did get the money wo could never buy anything like what is sent to us from you. Money always causes trouble, and it will certainly if sent out for that kind of use. Out here all agree that they would sooner take the risk qf not receiving the parcel than have the money grant. “ Some time ago,”, the letter proceeds, “we were the occasional recipients of parcels Containing articles which double tho' money expended on them in New. Zealand would not procure in this country, articles which can hardly ever he, obtained in these days in France, and so why continue, sending them? They are always in good condition on arrival, and we cannot see any reason why they should be replaced by money grants. The boys unanimously favour parcels before battery funds. . . So try to convince anyone you hear of who is trying to follow the lead of the Auckland Society. What they have done will till the end of the war bo cast up against the Auckland boys by those who live in tho other provinces. “ Good old Canterbury,” the writer adds, “ has done more for us in the way of parcels than any other province, and wo send our heartfelt thanks to the Christchurch branch of the 'Lady Liverpool Fund.”