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One of the most interesting phases of the patriotic work in New Zealand is the packing of these weekly food parcels. This work is carried out almost entirely by voluntary women workers in Wellington, and is under the supervision of Mr. J. Nixonwestwood, Secretary of the War Purposes Committee of the Joint Council. No praise is too high for the work that is being performed in this connection. The cost of prisoner-of-war food parcels was discussed with the Government in November, 1942, and the Government agreed that it would bear the actual cost of these parcels. Consequently in the year under review the whole cost of the food parcels was paid for by the Government, the Board receiving £240,250 for this purpose. Apart from the food parcels, the number of prisoner-of-war next-of-kin clothing parcels handled during the year has increased considerably. Bach next-of-kin is authorized to send a parcel at quarterly intervals, containing specified articles. Official leaflets are circulated quarterly to bona fide next-of-kin, and the parcels are forwarded, through the Post Office, to the Joint Council, for censoring, repacking, the inclusion of a packet of chocolate, and delivery again to the Postal Authorities. This is a task of no mean order, and again has practically all been carried out by voluntary personnel in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. The Joint Council has two Commissioners overseas—Major W. Tweedy in the Middle Bast, and Colonel Myers, Honorary Commissioner in the United Kingdom. Thanks to the work of these two Commissioners our sick and wounded in Great Britain and the Middle East have received extra comforts during the year under review. Comforts have also been placed on the Hospital Ships " Maunganui" and " Oranje." (i) New Zealand Public Service Association, Inc.—This Association, almost since the inception of the war, has acted as a collecting agent of the Board, and has assisted in the raising of patriotic moneys by regular contributions from salaries and wages of civil servants. From the outset to the end of September, 1943, the amount of £22,646 9s. 7d. was collected through the agency of this organization. (j) N.Z. Lady Galway Patriotic Guild.-—This Guild has continued its excellent work in collecting and reconditioning garments for despatch to the United Kingdom and elsewhere, including Malta, Poland, and Russia, for the relief of civilians and others who have suffered from bombing and from other hardships occasioned by the war. During the year ended 30th September, 1943, 1,525 cases of clothing have been sent overseas. IV. Special Phases of Patriotic Work in New Zealand (a) Postal Tobacco Scheme. —The popularity of this duty-free tobacco scheme increased during the year. The packing was done by voluntary helpers in Wellington, under the direction of Mrs. B. Reid, J.P., to whom, and to her assistants, the Board records its deep appreciation. (b) Postal Chocolate Schem,e.—When the year closed a scheme for sending chocolate to servicemen from orders placed at post-offices was being formulated. The scheme has since been launched with conspicuous success. (c) Supply.—The peak mobilization period placed a strain on the Board's staff in securing supplies for New Zealand and overseas, and a special tribute is due to the Board's office and stores staffs in meeting unprecedented demands in a reasonable manner in the face of a depleted supply position. V. Recreation Huts in Camps During the year over 200 buildings were erected. At one period 268 institutions were being operated on behalf of the Board by the Y.M.C.A., Church Army, Catholic Institute, and Salvation Army. These were situated all over New Zealand, the farthest north being at Waipapakauri, while the farthest south was Invercargill. Practically all these new buildings were of the prefabricated bolted hut type of light structure. They were built in standard sizes, and although modest in design proved adequate for the purpose. VI. Work Overseas The report so far has dealt entirely with the work carried out by expending agents on behalf of the Board. In addition to this, the Board has its Commissioners in London, Middle East, Canada, and the Pacific, and the work of these Commissioners, and the Board's work generally overseas, may be summarized as follows :— (a) Middle East In the early part of the year Mr. H. Shove, Y.M.C.A. Commissioner with the 2nd Division, was reported missing, and was subsequently reported as prisoner of war. In the carrying-out of his duties he was a great inspiration to his staff. His greatest object in life was to serve the men in the battle area as efficiently as possible. His capture by the enemy was a distinct blow to the work of the Y.M.C.A. and to the patriotic effort generally. Mr. Steptoe was appointed Commissioner for the Y.M.C.A. in place of Mr. Shove, and during the period under review carried out his duties in an excellent manner. New Zealand Forces Club.—The popularity of this club, in Cairo, was such that it became necessary to refuse admittance to all troops other than New-Zealanders, except that a New Zealand serviceman was permitted to take two guests. During the year this club was extended considerably, and has become one of the best-known clubs in the Middle East. Women's Parcels. —Owing to the increasing number of women with the Forces it became desirable to have a special quarterly parcel prepared and forwarded for nurses and Waacs. This work was undertaken in New Zealand by a group of voluntary women workers from the Hutt Valley, and was much appreciated by the servicewomen from the commencement. Extension of Work.—As the Division moved westward to Tripoli the lines of communication became difficult, and comforts were necessarily given secondary consideration to the vital needs of the men food and the like. Some idea of transport difficulties can be gained from the fact that 21 three-ton trucks were used to carry one issue of quarterly parcels, 2,000 land miles from the base in Cairo. In some cases comforts were forwarded by the sea route, and some of these shipments are now at the bottom of the Mediterranean. First of all Tobruk was the port used. The Army then moved on, and Benghazi became the base of our Port Detachment, then came the action in Tripoli, with our troops 250 miles away, on a very rough road. The willing assistance given to the Board's Commissioner during the period by all ranks of the Divisional Transport Corps cannot be too highly praised, and thanks to their efforts the comforts got through.

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