SOLDIERS' PARCELS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1918, Page 6

SOLDIERS' PARCELS.

WORK OF WOMEN'S 'PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE. The value of the work that is being done by the New Plynioolli AVomen's Patriotic Committee in despatching parcels to soldiers at the front every month can scarcely be overestimated, and yet it is feared that some of those to whose sons the parcels are sent do not fully realise the extent of-the work that is being done. It is doubtful also if the general public of the district has any. thing more than a most vague conception of the magnitude or the success of the work being done, by a comparatively small band of women, for the boys at the front. For some time after the outbreak of the war there was little organised ef- | fort on behalf of the soldiers in .the matter of sending them little comforts and j luxuries. For the past two years or more, however, under the direction of the Mayoress of New Plymouth (Mrs. C. H. Burgess, M.8.C.), ail organisation has been developed which has ilecomplished a vast amount of useful work, of the appreciation of whifcli there has balm ample evidence from the very men whom it has been the object of (he ladies to reach—those right' up in the firing line. When it is stated that anything up to 500 , (or even more) parcels are sent away from New Plymouth every month, some conception of the extent of the work may be formed. During the past week the ladies have been engaged in making up the parcels for the current month's shipment, and a peep in at the rooms on St. Aubyn street on Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon revealed a veritable bee-hive of industry. It is one of the features of the parcels sent from New Plymouth that the contents are varied as much as possible, and. the making up of the parcels is done in a very systematic planner. Each parcel contains a pair of socks, a towel, tin of condensed milk, a tin of sweets or chocolate, or perhaps a tin of sugar, and to make the parcels of uniform size the odd spaces (if any) are filled up with walnuts or such delicacies as would be unobtainable by the men at the front. Other varieties of toothsome delicacies which may be included in some of thn parcels are concentrated soups, meat Tiastes, tinned mullete, tongues, honey, jams, pineapple, coffee and milk, cocoa, eurrie powders, and such sweets as blackballs peppermint*, mid loaf sugar. Other useful things which are frequently put in the parcels are tooth paste, vaseline, fly-killer, etc. The Mayoress has been successful in making arrangements in several instances whereby regular supplies of certain lines are always coniini to hand. By this means supplies of lib tins of vanilla, chocolate are regularly received, as are also the strong leather bootlaces with which every parcel is secured- One pound fruit cakes arc also regularly supplied, the committee supplying the tins, lined with greased paper, to the confectioner, pours the mixture into the tins, and returns them to the committee in readiness for packing. When the work of making up the parcels is in full, swing the Indies proceed very systematically, and there is practically no overlapping. On a long table across the room, the first article for Inclusion in the parcel—the (owel—is placed neatly folded into a square. When full the table is capable of accommodating, side by side. 250 of these, towels. On these are placed the tins of food and sweets which are so selected as to make the parcel a regular size. The pair of socks, which are stitched at top and toe, are then used as a surround to the other articles, which are then wrapped in the towel and secured with the bootlaces. The pairing of the socks and laces and the folding of the towels are all done during the month in readiness for the packing week. The ladies proceed in sections, each handling a different portion of the work, and the svs- . tern has been found to work admirably. , The parcels are finally wrapped, in brown paper and tied with string, and they are of such convenient size that if the distribution takes place as the men happen to be moving up to the trenches the parcel can easily be carried in the band. 1 Kvcr since the scheme was set in motion the warehouse staff of Messrs Bur- ' gess, Fraser and Co., have done all the ! packing, r.nd the cases have been made by Mr. Coleman, sen. All the goods are ! sent forward c'are of the Y.M.C.A.. an<S ■ in that way the gifts get right up tp > the men in the firing line. The committee expends about £l5O > nov month in its work, and has been largely assisted by the New Plymouth L Pierrots. Anyone who desires to have a '■ parcel sent in his name may do so, on ! payment of 2s Oil. when, on the casft i bearing the committee's stamp will also be written the name and address of the : donor. > In all the parcels made up during this week a Y.M.C.A. "sticker" has been attached to the card, and the amount raised on Red Triangle Day written on the card, What the cowmittee is always in need of is a supplv of small tins—cigarette and tobacco tins, and lib tea tins —for packing sweets and cakes. There are many little ways in which assistance can be given to this work, and the Mayoress will be pleased to receive of- ! fers of services or gifts from any who can help.