PARCELS FOR SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 April 1918, Page 8

PARCELS FOR SOLDIERS.

THE SOLDIERS' APPRECIATION. The following extracts from letters received by, Mrs. D. J. Hughes will interest the Guild workers and others. The first is from a member of the No. 1 N.Z. Stationary Hospital in France, written oh January 2S: —

"While we were in our last place (out of which we were shelled, and a few days after we left the place was blown to bits), quite a lot of New Zealand gifts used to pass through my hands, and I can tell you it was by far the best stuff we ever had. The issue of pyjamas, shirts, sox, etc., cannot compare with those from New Zealand. A fine lot came from Inglewood, Tariki, OkaU, Omata. Lepperton, New Plymouth, Stratford. and Warea. There were consignments from other parts, bul' these did not pass through my hands. There is one thing peculiar to Taranaki clothihg—the size. Ail the garments are large. I wonder if it is that Taranaki uoys are bigger than those of other provinces? Anyway, if I wanted a big size suit for a patient I knew it was always tjiere in a Taranaki bundle- The £su sent by the N.P.W.I'.C., for which we are ail grateful, was divided amongst the members of the staff on a vote being taken as to what was to be done. We each received five francs (3s 8d), and the "nail balance was handed to the men's fi.nd. 'We always say here that wc have ;'«jod reason to be,proud of the way our women in New Zealand are working for us As a rule we have .sufficient °foo<) here and up the line—but sometimes it runs a bit short. I suppose you are wondering when the war wi)J end. Well, so are we, but we are expecting to see another year of this. Ho\sever, we arc all prepared to carry on with cheerful hearts. Sometimes in hospital there ar-3 sad sights and ghastly happenings, hut we just keep ourselves" together and help the poor chaps all wc pan. No 'bov should be allowed to come out here who is not very strong. I know from experience that it takes a really healthy chap to stand this racket in any capacity. That lovely parcel of yours reached ine to-day. and wasn't it a treat to us all? Something from home, and everything splendid. When the boys nw the Ifavelock there was a sensation as the tobacco we get is far from good, f kept one tin for myself and distributed the rest amongst the. boys, who send their thanks. We couldn't see one another for smoke for awhile! You cannot do better than send the garments and goods you have been sending all °long. They are what we need most and the Red Cross supplies are almost always fairly handy now. It is not always satisfactory to send money to England to be spent, mi things for the boys The Legion of Frontiersmen sent various sums for cigarettes for us, and the most awful stuff was forwarded frcni Ensland. It wns aln;ps( impossible t-> smoke it. The boys call it dynwitc. There is nothing (o 'beat Yellow Three Castles and Ilavelock! Tins of cisarettes should not be packed with scented [ soap, etc. Writing paper and envelopes are always needed. They are always 1 scarce."

Miss Sinclair also writes from Balnier Lawn .Section, Broekojihurst, to say tliat she had received the money k sent by the Omata Guild to be used for the benefit of sick men. Several men were given an outing to Beaulieu Wbbev with the money, and some have written (o express their tliank3 for the Guild's thought for them. Miss Sinclair also forwards a photograph taken of the 111011 at the Abbey, together with a book relating to this interesting place. The sick men appreciate these outings almost more than anything else that can be •lone for them.