R.S.A. food parcels will continue

Press, 15 June 1983, Page 3

R.S.A. food parcels will continue

PA Wellington The Returned Services’ Association will continue to send Christmas food parcels to forces overseas.

At its annual meeting in Wellington yesterday the association rejected a remit from the Dunedin branch calling for the food parcels to be stopped. The branch argued that most New Zealand forces overseas were not in need of food gifts. A Dunedin delegate said he knew that the parcels were a reminder of home but servicemen overseas were well paid and received allowances.

A Hutt Valley representative said his branch had had the same remit passed several years aago, nut because of pressure from many other branches, the parcels had been sent.

Other speakers supported the continuation of the parcels.

The association’s president, Mr Douglas Leuchars, told the conference that last Christmas about 1000 parcels at a cost of about $7 each had been sent to servicemen overseas.

. They were sent to sailors in the frigate Canterbury on

patrol in the Indian Ocean, to airmen in the Sinai peace-keeping force, to servicemen stationed in Singa'pore, and to others working with United Nations peacekeeping forces. The association generally tries to send typical New Zealand products in the parcels. Last year’s contained, among other things, a can of beer, fruit drinks, paua soup, and New Zealand bully beef.