CHRISTMAS PLUM PUDDINGS.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15938, 27 June 1917, Page 6

CHRISTMAS PLUM PUDDINGS.

PARTICULARS OF

DISTRIBUTION".

On April 13th we cabled to our London correspondent to send us full particulars as to the distribution of the Christinas plum puddings which wore subscribed for by readers of "Tho Press," and sent in conjunction with tho Christmas parcels forwarded by tho Lady Liverpool Fund. Our correspondent's reply, dated April 17th, canio to hand by the last mail. Ho says:— With regard to the distribution, I discussed tins with Major Greene, othcer in charge of the Gilts Section, and decided on tne following ailo'.-u----tion:—

Ist Canterbury Battaliou, 30 cases (lOSUlD). 2nd Canterbury Battalion, 30 cases. Canterbury, Westland, and Marlborough soldiers, N.Z.K.8., K 2O cases. Canterbury, \\ estiand, and -Marlborough N.Z.F.A., 13 eases. Canterbury, Westland, and Marlborough N.Z. Pioneers. S cases. Canterbury, Westland, ami Marlborough N.Z. Divisional Troops, 5 cases.

Canterbury, Westland, and Marlborough N.Z. Tunnelling Corps, 3 eases.

Canterbury, Westland, and Marlborough N.Z. Mounted 1'.8., Egypt, 13 cases. Tho Nelson soldiers were omitted in accordance with your later instructions and Mr E. G. Wilson's letter of October 21st. This allocation allowed lib of pudding for each soldier from the districts mentioned, but 21b tins were preferred to lib from tho commissariat point of view. Thcro was, too, a considerable saving by taking the larger size. The balance was distributed as follows : llonichurch 5 cases, Codford 10, Sling 10, Broekenhurst 3, Birmingham hospitals 1, sent to New Zealand £-case.

Major Greene took tho same view that you did, namely, that the men at the front should be completely provided for before any puddings were distributed amongst men 111 England. After having done this, however, there was a balance which could well be applied here, especially as it did not appear at the time that any arrangements had been made lor Christmas puddings lor several of the camps 111 Great Britain. At Codford there were, perhaps, 2000 New Zealnnders, of whom, roughly, one-fourth would bo from the specified districts. At Hornchurch thoro was also a large camp of convalescents. At Sling some thousands of soldiers were in camp, and just beforo Christinas a new batch of 2000 arrived. At Brockenliurst no provision had apparently been made for the stafF, -which is a very large one, and Major Greene suggested that some of tho puddings should go there. The case to Birmingham was sent to the chief official visitor, who lias to look after a considerable number of hospitals in that district.

In each case I wroto to tho O.C. asking that special stcpß should bo taken to sec that the puddings got to tho men for whom they were intended. and also that they should know from whom they came; and I believe that this was done in every case. It is not always possible where units contain men from all districts to earmark tho puddings absolutely from a territorial point of view, and in such cases, of course, the O.C. had to be left aiscrction to do tho best he could.

The order for the puddings was placcd in October, mid the- puddings were all delivered to the military forwarding authorities in the first nnd second week of November. Thoy therefore reached the front in ample time for Christmas, and were apparently appreciated, as a very jrroat quantity of puddings, which I understand were sent from New Zealand, did not arrivo in time.

In ease if it being necessary to send puddings again it would *bo wise to give instructions, as you have dono on both previous occasions, not later than September or the first week or two in October. Tlio puddings this year cost 3Gs 9d per case of 18. which with a cash discount of 5 per cent., was practically tho same as last year's price. They wero provided bv Messrs J. Lyons and Co.. and were, I. think, entirely' satisfactory.