COMFORTS FOR N.Z. TROOPS

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23054, 24 June 1940, Page 6

COMFORTS FOR N.Z. TROOPS

$ £SOOO Sent By Cable To England (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, June 23. The National Patriot!: Fund Board has sent a cablegram to Brigadier J. Hargest, Officer Commanding the 2nd Echelon of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, which is now in the United Kingdom, advising him that the board had sent-by cable £SOOO sterling to the High Commissioner for New Zealand in Britain (Mr W. J. Jordan) for a comforts fund for the troops. The cablegram asked Brigadier Hargest to communicate' his requirements for this purpose. A similar contingency fund was established by the board for the benefit of the Ist Echelon in Egypt. Apart frotn the' money the board has cabled to the High Commissioner, the board saw to it that the 2nd Echelon was well equipped with comforts for the voyage and for the troops on arrival at their destination. There were separate packages for the detachments of naval men and nurses. The articles sent provided a study in variety. There Was a large supply of playing cards and indoor games—more than 70 dozen packs of playing cards, sets of draughts, crib boards, and chessmen, dart boards, ping-pong bats and balls, and tenniquoit sets. Other material included Sets of boxing gloves, footballs, and football linings, songs and music, song books, tooth brushes, harmonicas, hair clippers, skipping ropes, writing materials, biscuits, lime juice and soda water, condensed milk and coffee and milk, radio sets and batteries. Five thousand cases of apples were shipped, for the troops on. their arrival. The items mentioned do not represent all that accompanied the echelon, but they, give some idea not only of the Variety of the comforts that are provided, but also of the way the National Patriotic Fund Board, through the public support it has received, is attending -to the well-being of the members of the fighting services.