PARCELS REACH EGYPT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 259, 30 September 1940, Page 7

PARCELS REACH EGYPT.

TROOPS HIGHLY DELIGHTED.

(New Zealand Official News Service.) CAIRO, Sept. 26.

Distributed almost on the eve of the anniversary of the mobilisation, the first consignment of gift parcels to reach the New Zealand contingent in Egypt formed a welcome “first birthday present” for the troops who are now mostly stationed in the Western Desert.

The attractive contents of the parcels, which were forwarded through the National Patriotic Fund Board, were a general source of surprise and delight to the New Zealanders. They contained a wide range of comforts such as tinned foodstuffs, cakes, biscuits, sweets and tobacco, all of which are. types of gifts extremely acceptable to the fighting forces here. The articles of clothing and toilet were wisely reduced to a minimum. The parcels were marked in many cases with the names of the organisations or provinces by which they were donated. Some contained goodwill messages from individual donors. As far as possible the troops were given the parcels which originated from their own provinces, but such wisdom was shown in the selection of the contents that most were more than staisfied with the gifts received. Unique supper parties were held in many tents in the evening after the distribution when, even in the darkness of the blackout, fruit salad and cream, topped off with biscuits and coffee, were easily-prepared luxuries.