GIFT PARCELS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24416, 30 September 1940, Page 6

GIFT PARCELS

FIRST BIRTHDAY PRESENT CONSIGNMENT REACHES EGYPT NEW ZEALANDERS DELIGHTED (New Zealand Official News Service) CAIRO, Sept. 26. Distributed almost on the eve of the anniversary of 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. 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 given, and some contained goodwill messages from individual donors. As far as was possible, the troops were given the parcels which originated in their own provinces, but such was the wisdom shown in the selection of the contents that most of the men were more than satisfied with the gifts they received. 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 cff with biscuits and coffee, were easily-prepared luxuries. SUPPLY~oFcOMFORTS RESTATEMENT OF POSITION (Special ro Daily Times) WELLINGTON, Sept. 28. "Some letters which have come under notice recently show that apparently there is still some lack of appreciation of the position in respect to comforts for the First Echelon of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in Egypt ' says a statement issued to-day by Mr G. A. Hayden, secretary of the National Patriotic Fund Board. , .. ... There was a tendency to believe tna. the men of the First Echelon had been forgotten, Mr Hay den said, but nothing was further from the truth They had been supplied by the Patriotic Fund Board with sports gear, various games, writing materials, song books, radio sets, coffee and milk, lemons, soda water, pianos, books and magazines, etc., for use on the voyage as well as goods to be awarded as prizes on board ship, and other articles intended for -use on disembarkation including tinned fruit, marqueesi.and crockery. Sums totalling £6735 in New Zealand currency for fit men and £6050 for sick and wounded men naa also been remitted to Egypt.

Diversion of Parcels

It was most regrettable that the follow-up in the nature of gift parcels 5000 cases of apples, and more books and periodicals did not arrive in Egypt, owing to the diversion to the United Kingdom of the Second Echelon, with whom the goods were sent, Mr Hayden said, but as soon as this position became known steps were taken _to meet it The board's representative in Egypt was asked to provide additional cornforts from the funds.he had in hand, and by the first available ship a fresh supplv of gift parcels, together with 66 cases of fruit cake, was sent to the First Echelon. A few days ago he had received a cable stating that these goods had arrived. . These. Mr Hayden said, were the facts of the I 'case. He said it also did not appear to be fully appreciated that the Y.M.C.A. snd the Church Army were agents of the board overseas, and that all the work carried out by these organisations was financed by the National Patriotic Fund Board. In addition, every padre overseas was provided with money to assist individual cases. The work done in the camps in New Zealand by the Y.M.C.A., Salvation Army. Church Army, and the Catholic Church was financed out of patriotic funds in the same way. Position Restored Having regard to all the facts. Mr Hayden said he thought it would be appreciated that the national patriotic organisation had played its part by the first echelon. No one more than the members of the board regretted the position that arose when the second echelon was diverted to England and the comforts for the first echelon did not reach Egypt, but that was due to no fault or omission of the board, which, as soon as it was practical to do so. saw to it that this loss was fullv made up. The patriotic organisation throughout the country Mr Hayden added, was working' well, and the aim of all engaged in the work was to see that the men of the fighting services received the maximum benefit of the funds subscribed. The public could rest assured that that was being done.