PATRIOTIC FUND

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23918, 9 April 1943, Page 4

PATRIOTIC FUND

MR HAYDEN REPLIES TO CRITIC DISTRIBUTION OF GIFT PARCELS ‘‘Usually the criticism of patriotic activities is unfounded because the critics do not understand what the National Patriotic Fund Board is dome and do not seem to realise that in the battle areas the Y.M.C.A., Church Army, and Red Cross are the board’s agents and that all war activities of these organisations are financed out of patriotic moneys,” wrote Mr G. A. Hayden, secretary of the board, in a comment on a letter to the editor of “The Press.” , ~ The letter, signed “Wake Up Knitters,” was as follows; “I wonder why so many of our soldiers fighting in the Middle East, some for two and a half Years, have never received patriotic parcels. Of some boys who were through Greece and lost everything, and were again in Crete, one was issued with a hussif and others nothing. All had to buy their own woollies. Parcels are issued to patients in hospitals and I believe at base, but why can’t they be issued where most needed? There is no excuse for this neglect, for the Y.M.C.A. van travels right to the fighting lines. Cannot they be issued .through the Y.M.C.A.? At present, if the boys want a hot drink at nights before resting, they have to pay for it. That should not be allowed. They deserve everything free, and it is up* to us at home to do our best to see they get it.” Mr Hayden said he would be interested to know the names of any soldiers who had received no parcels in two and a half years. There were bound to be some men who missed in some distributions, but 70,000 parcels were distributed every quarter. Forward troops were always given priority in the distribution. The statement was contrary to reports received by the board. Referring to\ men who lost everything in Greece and Crete, Mr Hayden said any item of equipment other than personal effects lost by a soldier through no fault of his own on active operations was replaced by the Army with no charge. Patriotic funds were not used for individual comforts for men overseas, and the policy of the board had been to supply collective comforts, but after these two campaigns distributions were made to the extent of the need. Mr Hayden said the correspondent suggested that gift parcels could be taken to the front line by Y.M.C.A. vans. It might be of interest to the correspondent to know that 55 15cwt trucks were used to take gift parcels and tobacco to men in the line at El Alamein and 21 trucks, including 15 three-tonners, to get gift parcels to the men last Christmas. It would be Impossible for the Y.M.C.A. to distribute the parcels. Generally speaking all goods from canteens were on a sale basis except when troops were in the line, when free issues of tobacco, cigarettes, chocolate, cups of tea. etc., were made. From June to November the cost of the free distribution of goods to troops in the Middle East was £7965 (Egyptian currency), The cost at the base was £343. and for non-divisional units £lO6.

Mr Hayden did not agree with the view that the troops should get everything free, as in no army were the men supplied with everything but were required to pay for a certain amount of their minor, personal items.