CHRISTMAS PARCELS FOR FIGHTING FORCES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24424, 9 October 1940, Page 11

CHRISTMAS PARCELS FOR FIGHTING FORCES

TO THE EDITOR

Sir, —I wish to thank you for the information you obtained in answer to my letter of September 23, and I am sure all interested welcome the fact that the National Patriotic Fund Board is endeavouring to see that no one on active service goes without a parcel. The method of allocation, however, within Otago, and more particularly in the Clutha County area, is unsatisfactory, and I would like to bring to your notice and that of your readers the following figures:—The number of parcels required for all New Zealand, 30.000, means that on a population basis one parcel is required for every 53 people. The allocation of 9.3 per cent, to all Otago is a fair one, as 9.35 per cent, of the New Zealand population normally resides in Otago. This means an allocation of 2790 parcels for Otago. On a population basis, this means that 135 parcels would be required froip the Clutha County Council area, yet at a recent meeting of the Kuriwao Patriotic Committee those present- were led to believe that 220 parcels were required from this area. If the Clinton Town District is included in the area. 142 parcels would be required, while if the boroughs of Balclutha and Kaitangata were also included the number required would be 198. I presume that the latter two places were not included, as the letter requesting the parcels came from the Clutha County Council. If this is so. then the request for 220 parcels was 50 per cent, in excess of the actual requirements, and an immediate statement is required to show how this apparent error in the

calculations came about, so that in future allocations people within this area may not be imposed upon. In times such as these, people are only too willing to do all they can; but such demands should be equitable, as the figures given by the secretary of the National Patriotic Fund Committee show was the intention for the whole of the Dominion, but evidently not for the Clutha County. Should my figures bo in error, perhaps the secretary of the Otago Provincial Patriotic Council will point out where the discrepancy occurs.—l am, etc.. Inquirer. Clinton, October 7.