CHRISTMAS AT THE FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 September 1915, Page 3

CHRISTMAS AT THE FRONT.

PRESENTS FOR THE SOLDIERS. NEW PLYMOUTH SCHEME. The Mayor of New Plymouth lias, through'the kindness of Mr. H. J. Okey, M.P., obtained advice as to the best course to pursue in regard to getting Christmas gifts for the soldiers at the front forwarded to Egypt. The-Minister of Defence informs Mr. Okey that there will bo no difficulty .in getting space for cases on the transport sailing in October. The Under-Secretary of the Department of Internal Affairs advises that if the gifts are cakes or other eatables' it would be advisable to have them made up in small flat tins, suitably sealing each tin, and have marked on them "Christmas gifts for the soldiers from Taranaki from ," place the tins, in cases, address the cases to the "Officer Commanding New Zealand Expeditionary Forces, the Base, Alexandria," marking thereon "Christinas gifts for the soldiers from Taranaki," and consign the cases to the "UnderSecretary Department of Internal Afairs,"No. 3. Shed, Glasgow Wharf, Wellington," so as to reach Wellington the first .week in October, when arrangements will gladly be made for them to go forward by one of the transports leaving in October. This will ensure their reaching Egypt in November, and afford ample time for the cases to go forward to the Dardanelles by Christmas. Enquiry was made as to whether gifts for individual soldiers might be consigned in this way. The Under-Secre-tary says that while the Department will accept such gifts it is regretted that no promise can be made that delivery can be effected for the reason that in a large number of cases already where gifts have gone forward addressed to individual! soldiers these men have been laid up in hospitals either in Malta or' England, and it will be realised how difficult it would be for anything after reaching Gallipoli to be re-consigned to either Malta or England. If, however, any <>* the Taranaki residents .desire particularly to send gifts to individual soldiers they will be forwarded. Such articles had better be placed in a separate case addressed to "The Officer Commanding New Zealand Expeditionary Forceß, the Base, Alexandria," and marked "Gifts for individual soldiers, names within." At the same time it is recommended that sucli parcel should be endorsed "If delivery cannot be effected then the question of handing the article to any deserving "New Zealand case to be left to the discretion of the Officer Commanding." • The Mayor will be glad to arrange for the packing and dispatch of cases accordingly, and also to receive contributions and gifts of money to be used in the purchase of gifts. Cases willv be dispatched on Tuesday, October 5, and arrangements are being made for a receiving depot, the location of which will be advertised. We have received the following subscriptions towards the Mayor's Fund:— „ i* a. d. W. and K. v.. ..;,-.-.. 1 0 0 W. Eustace ...... T .....-.-,.... 0 6 0 A Friend ......-.-.. -,,-..~... o 10 0