DELIVERY OF LETTERS TO OUR MEN.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15338, 23 July 1915, Page 8

DELIVERY OF LETTERS TO OUR MEN.

VARIOUS COMPLAINTS. (special to "ths press.") WELLINGTON, Jul r 22. Several references were made in the Honso to-day to the delay ijv the delivery of letters to members of tho Ex* peditionary Force at the front. The Minister of Defence (tho Hon. James Allen) said that some people did not address their letters sufficiently, . • Tho Government had oommunicatetf with Egypt, suggesting that eomo-.ex* perts should be sent from the Postal Department hore to strengthen the staff in Egypt, but no reply had been roceived to the suggestion. It was cliffi- . cult to trace the cause for letters'going . astray. . Mr Witty referred to a case where a •" mother had sent her son £3. It cost her 20s to send that amount, and tho :. boy never received the money. \ ■ Mr Allen said that he could not do anything more with regard to eending , money than had been provided. They ", would consolidate sums of money and. remit it to Egypt once a week or co at a minimum of cost. If people would '= send money on fheir oim account thftDefence Department could not be te-. - sponsible for it. . ' " ( Mr Jennings asked why letters had not ; reached the Dardanelles. " ~f> Mr Allen: A large mail was landed at --1 the Dardanelles, but members will un- -j derstand that our men are mixed' up ~- with the Australians, the Indians, and ' "• all sorts of people. "■' A member: And with the Turks. (Laughter.) - Mr Allen: "Well, they are rather mixed up." (Laughter). Hβ hoped' , that members would realise the diffi- ■ cnlty of delivering the letters. They ■were apparently at the base in the Dardanelles, waiting for delivery.