ITEMS MISSING FROM FOOD PARCELS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 140, 25 March 1948, Page 4

ITEMS MISSING FROM FOOD PARCELS

BLAMED (P.A.) WELLINGTON. March 24. • Complaints- made; to New /Zealand House; London, about items missing from gift and food parcels from New Zealand have been referred to the Chief Post Office, London, according to cabled advice received by tjie Prime Minister’s Department from, the High Commissioner (Mr W. J. Jordan). /‘We have been- informed that-ntost careful investigations leave no reasonable doubt that only a very .small, percentage mf the losses reported are due to theft,” said the plight Commissioner. - “The great majority of. losses of part of, or whole, parcels are due to poor packing and the consequent bursting open of packages. When this occurs it is frequently im-, possible to associate loose articles with the parcel to which they belong, although every effort is made to do so. We are informed that, in spite of all precautions, the number, of., articles found loose is very great and the Post Office'is always anxious to restore these to their proper owners.” ' The cable adds that if parcels were securely packed a great deal of unnecessary work would be Saved' the postal authorities in London and'recipients would/ be more likely to receive their-parcels intact.