CHRISTMAS PARCELS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 138, 7 March 1941, Page 8

CHRISTMAS PARCELS

Enemy Action In England

Damages Woollens N.Z. FORCES’ LOSS

That a considerable portion of the woollen goods which accompanied the National Patriotic Fund Board’s consignment of Christmas parcels to New Zealand Forces in England had suffered severely by enemy action following delivery in the United. Kingdom, was announced yesterday with regret by the board’s secretary, Mr. G. A. Hayden. The parcels themselves reached the Forces safely and in good condition.

Mr. Hayden said that advice had been received from Lieutenant-Colonel F. Waite, the board's overseas commissioner, that 46 out of 50 cases of woollen goods had been destroyed by enemy action. The destruction of these cases represented a loss roughly of 7000 each of balaclavas, pairs of mittens, and scarves. The cases were stored at the time in a warehouse In Liverpool. As the contents had some salvage value, they were handed over to the knitted comforts committee to salvage and make the best use possible of the material worth saving. Fortunately, all the Christmas parcels sent by the board for the New Zealand Forces in England had been removed from Liverpool previously, and, as had already been announced, were distributed in time for Christmas. The 50 cases of woollen articles were part of a big consignment of comforts. Details forwarded by the board’s commissioner showed that 142 cases of parcels went to London for posting to individual New Zealand members of the Navy and the Royal Air Force, 12 special cases to the Maori Battalion, three cases to the nurses, four special cases to the forestry units, three cases to the members of the New Zealand Forces in hospital, and 998 cases were allotted for distribution among the other New Zealand troops. Gifts Gratefully Received. Mr. Hayden added that it was pleasing to learn that the goods arrived in splendid condition, and that not a single ease had been broken. Since Christmas the board had received many letters from members of the forces overseas, including the nursing service, expressing thanks for the gifts to the board and to the people of New Zealand. • One New Zealander with the R.A.F. had written that these gifts had shown him that it meant something to be a New Zealander. Another said he hoped the people of New Zealand realized how much the New Zealanders in England appreciated the gifts from home. “I may mention.’’ the airman added, "that the Christmas cake and pudding were the best I have tasted since I left home.” *