PARCELS FROM AUCKLAND

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25304, 2 October 1947, Page 6

PARCELS FROM AUCKLAND

STATEMENT BY MAYOR. (P.A.) AUCKLAND. October 1. Complaints that an Auckland firm was sending parcels to Britain with labels which did not accurately represent theiii contents were investigated some time ago by the Mayor (Mr J. A. C. Allum). He said to-day that ag a result of the inquiries he had then made he believed the cause of criticism had been removed. If the statement by the New Zealand High Commissioner (Mr W, J. Jordan) referred to parcel? sent from Auckland since then he would certainly look into the matter again. 4 ‘l want-to make it perfectly clear,” Mr AHum said, “that the complaints which I investigated did not relate to any of the firms which are household words to the majority of Aucklanders who send parcels to Britain, In addl-* Jion to parcels packed in my own home have been responsible for many ffunIreds of parcels sent to Britain by the firms to which I refer. I have never had a single complaint about parcels which they have packed. The contents ,have always been strictly according to label.

Explanation of Discrepancy “It should also be said,” Mr Allum continued, “that when I took the matter up with the firm concerned I received an explanation of the discrepancy. I was informed that, through variations in supply, it had not always been possible to include a particular item as ordered in the parcel. However I was assured that when this happened the firm either refunded the money for that item or sent it separately to Britain when supplies again became available. “There is another aspect which has only, recently come to my attention,” Mr A)lum said. “From letters I have been receiving from friends and relatives in England I am very much airaid there is a certain amount of tamperr mg in Britain itself with the contents of parcels before they are delivered. For example one parcel we sent recently arrived with an item which was not m it when we packed it at cur home. “I have np doqbt this tampering is being done in England,” said Mr Ajlum. I have reason to belipve that internal mails in England are also GUf-

FOOD FOR BRITAIN

420 CASES DISPATCHED YESTERDAY

When the Harpalion leaves Lyttelton during the week-end on her way to London she will carry anions her cargo nine ton? of food parcels for distribution in England by the Min. istry of Food. - The food, packed into 420 cases containing more than 25,000 tins and packets, was given by schools, Red Cross Society branches, and citizens in Canterbury and the West Coast, and was dispatched to Lyttelton from the King Edward Barracks yesterday morning. The parcels arp • sent under the scheme ised by the Famine Emergency Committee 16 months ago. Smee the inception of the scheme 2546 cases including yesterday’s consignment, have been dispatched. The receiving and packing of the food were undertaken by the North Canterbury centre of the Red Cross Society. Thanks to the Army Authoriues for making accommodation available at the barracks were expressed yesterday by the president of the centre (Lady Wigram).