GIFTS FOR TROOPS.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 December 1915, Page 2

GIFTS FOR TROOPS.

HOW THEY ARE DISTRIBUTED, COLONEL CHARTERS' REPORT. An interesting report on the distribution of gifts of goods and money for the troops at the front lias been received by the Defence Minister from Lieut.Coloiicl A. B. Charters, commanding the New Zealand Base at Alexandria. The following is the text of the report:— I am pleased to report that the gift goods have been arriving regularly and are being distributed as far as possible in accordance with instructions. The two lots of Waugaimi jam have arrived, and lias been distributed to the two New Zealand hospitals and to Lady Godley's Home; but, unfortunately, all the home-made jam want bad coming through the tropics, and had to be thrown away, while, in addition, a, great number of tho glass jara containing jam were broken in transit, and a great (leal of fine jam lost. I would BUggest that in future all jam should, be sent in tins (say 71b tins), as it carries better ana keeps better. The jam is very acceptable, as English jam is very poor. The Red Cross goods are divided between the two New Zealand hospitals, unless specially addressed otherwise. The medical officers at No. 1 Stationary Hospital assure me that the contents of ! the bales sent are most useful. The gifts from the Lady Liverpool Fund have been distributed also as far as possible in accordance with instructions, but, as I have explained to the president of the fund, it is quite impossible to ensure that goods addressed, say, 4th Reinforcements, actually reach those men, '• seeing that the Reinforcements are embodied in the Main Force immdiately they arrived; they are, however, sent over with the other goods, and doubtless the O.C. units do their best to distribute, Gifts addressed to particular units are held until there is an officer of that same unit embarking overseas; he signs for his unit's gifts and takes proper precautions for safeguarding them. There has been consistent thieving on transports between here and Anzac, and experience .has shown us that the only safe method of dispatching gifts is to hand to, say, a Canterbury infantry officer, gifts for Canterbury infantrymen, and so on. This occasionally entails a little delay, but my experience has taught me that the delay is worth while. The last received cases of gifts were sent in charge of Brigadier-General Russell, who, being O.C. troops on board the transport, was able to place the cases in a lock-up room. We take every precaution in placing goods on board the ships, sending nothing oxeopt in charge of an officer, and taking his signature for everything sent. More than this we cannot do, and I think the system has worked very well. The gift of money, as, for instance, that cabled on September 8, are divided as far as possible equally between Cairo and Alexandrai. Will you please convey ' to the donors—Natives and others, Tokoniarri Bay, Chetwode School girls (whose £ls was immediately made available for No. 1 New Zealand Hospital), Miss Barnicoat. I'etone, Te Awanmtu Defence Committee, Nelson Empire Defence Committee, Reefton Patriotic Committee, Vacuum Oil Company, Wellington, the Ngatipourous—our sincere thanks on behalf of the lads on whom the money is spent. I think they may rest assured that it is expended to the best advantage,' In conclusion, I should add that suf-" ficient comforts from those ex Maheno and Willochra, for every man at .the front, were dispatched as early as possible; and al lmen on detachment in Egypt (at base, with troftspon, etc.), were also supplied, tho balance being that whiih would have gone to the killed and missing, being retained in store as a reserve against winter. No gifts were sent over during August, as owing to the heavy fighting and casualties no unit would have had an opportunity of distributing, and great waste would have ensued.