LUXURIES FOR ARMY

Taranaki Daily News, 30 September 1940, Page 8

LUXURIES FOR ARMY

Official News Service.

FIRST GIFTS IN EGYPT

Cairo, Sept. 26. Distributed almost on the eve of the anniversapy of mobilisation, the first consignment of gift parcels to reach the New Zealand contingent in Egypt formed a welcome present for the troops who are now mostly stationed in the western desert. The attractive contents of the parcels, which were forwarded through the National Patriotic Fund Board, were a general source of surprise and delight to the New Zealanders. They contained a wide raqge of comforts such as tinned foodstuffs, cakes, biscuits, sweets and tobacco, all of which are types of gifts extremely acceptable to the fighting forces here. Articles of clothing and tollet were wisely reduced to a minimum. Parcels were marked in many cases with the names of organisations or provinces by which they were , given. Some contained goodwill inessages from individual donors. As far as possible troops wene given parcels which origin. ated in their own provinces, but such wisdom was shown in the selection of the contents that most were more than satisfied with the gifts. Supper partie3 were held in the tents when even in the darkness of the blackout fruit salad and cream, topped off xyith biscuits and cofiee, were easily prepared luxuries.