MONEY OR GOODS?

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 258, 28 October 1916, Page 9

MONEY OR GOODS?

for 6ou>iers nc trenches. ADVICE TO V.M.C.A. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. i Mr. Varney, who is in London representing the Young Men's Christian Asso- < ciation of New Zealand, cables to the'i V.M.C.A. asking it to discourage the j i . i sending of gifts of goods through the in- j '. ■ j stitution, and intimates that money j ■ i j should be cabled instead. Mr. Varney . ■ says: "We can buy all necessary comforts ' : and save months in transit. We are ; developing work in the trenches, and have : ■ organisations to reach every man in the i • forward lines. Get all money possible for trench comforts." • Mr. A. Varney, who was national sec- : 1 retary of the North Island of New Zea- < land in the V.M.C.A., left for England a few months ago to superintend the work jof the Dominion field section. Soon : I after the outbreak of war, the Auck-I \ land branch of the Y.M.OA. placed its staff and organisation at the disposal of the relatives of boys who had gone to I the fronV The Association was pre- • pared , to forward money from relatives t of boye in the firing line, or in hospital, and has by arrangement secured the pri- , vitege of sending cable messages at j week-end rates at. any time. That mes . sages of inquiry have been appreciated , is shown to be a common experience by 3 the replies that have been received. Fre- , qaent inquiries are sent through the ; V.M.C.A., and at a minimum cost. Kelat tivee only pay the bare cost of the t cables, the wiole of the other work - being done free of charge by the representatives of the V.M.C.A. at the numer- - Gus bases of that organisation, which i enables it also to be in touch with every - hospital in each centre of the British - Isles. The Y.M.OA. is also prepared to - send money for relatives or gifts to tho - boys at the front. The effect of this is ■ that the boys feel that the things come T direct from their people in the Dor minion. With regard to Mr. Varney's message, a representative of the Auck ' land branch of the YJIC.A., when eeen ' to-day, stated that experience had proved they could buy the goods more \ cheaply in London, and that, of course, j delivery was much more prompt than 4f j the articles were cent from New Zeat land. There was also the possibility j that some articles might deteriorate on x the voyage Home. "Mr. Varney," he . said, "is in a position to give sound ad- . pec upon this matter, and there is no . dcubt that in future many will send the , money instead of the goods." - j Several commercial men who were asked their opinion upon the suggestion , of Mr. Varney that it was wiser to send money than goods said, "That is sound businesslike advice." One man remarked, j It is absurd to pay the cost of carriage I out here of goods, Customs dues on arnval, then cost of transit back again, when the whole of the articles can be purchased • a.% lower figures in London and sent to toe boys within.a few days' time of the money being sent." "Just fancy," said I one man, "the folly of sending Swiss . chocolates from New Zealand to boys in I France." . . Mr. A. J. Entrican, when, seen up&n the- >- matter, said,-Asfa r asweat St. James*' ; Presbyterian Church and Sunday school ; are concerned, we send tobacco and cigar- ' ettes through the Overseas Club to our I boys aij the front or in hospital. For , Chrwtmas gifts we get them purchased at Home, the plnm puddings being sent direct from London. Of course, there are t many mothers who like to make cakes . and puddings for their boys and send , them from here. Most probably the eoldiers prefer to have them made in their own homes rather than being sent from London. MV e find the money goes farther il it is sent to London and goods bought *Jere, added to which the articles refch k<? **?£ TT There ie cotter point that has to be considered. All the goods that have : first to be imported here have to pay high freights out, Customs dues, and also freight back again, unless they are sent by tne hospital ship, when' perhaps they wm rried $~ charge Mr Varney is quite right in hie suggestion that money should be sent in"