MATRON’S THANKS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 138, 7 March 1941, Page 9

MATRON’S THANKS

Gift From Patriotic Fund

Board

The growing file of letters of thanks the National Patriotic Fund Board has received for its activities on behalf of the New Zealand forces, from the humble private to Major-General B. G. Freyberg, VjC., General Officer Commandjiig the 2nd N.Z.E.F., has been added to recently by the receipt of an excellent letter from Matron D. Brown, of the New Zealand Army Nursing Service. Matron Brown -wrote on behalf of the sisters of the Second New Zealand General Hospital, Middle East. “We sisters of the N.Z.A.N.5.,” the letter states, “will be most grateful if you would convey our sincere thanks to the subscribers to the National Patriotic Society of New Zealand for the comforts so generously forwarded to ■us. We assure you that they are gratefully appreciated.” The letter was written in January, and Matron Brown makes special mention of the Christmas comforts sent through the board. The cakes, puddings,- and shortbread travelled particularly well and had gained richness in flavour en route. The honey that had been included was a great luxury as they had received very little honey. “Christmas was very busy,” the letter continues, “but we were able to enter into the spirit of the festive season with the patients, many of whom had not spent Christmas in their home country for several years, and to receive a parcel actually on Christmas Day was indeed a treat. “We each received a parcel from the Patriotic Society for Christmas. The highest reward a subscriber could receive is the knowledge of the great joy and pleasure the patients experience when they receive these parcels. It was good fortune that the parcels arrived in time for Christmas, as the very, best arrangements today are so often disorganized by unforeseen circumstances. ■ We take this opportunity of wishing you all the very best of good luck for 1941. May peace soon be restored in this troubled world of ours.” Letters expressing thanks for the Christmas parcels have come also from New Zealand soldiers, sailors, and airmen. One New Zealander serving with the R.A.F. states in his letter that the gifts have shown him that it means something to be a New Zealander. Another New Zealander with the R.A.F. states in his letter that he. hopes the people of New Zealand realize how much the-New Zealanders in England appreciate the gifts from home. “I may mention,” he adds, “that the Christmas cake and pudding were the best I have tasted since I left home.” Other letters pay tribute to the choice of the contents of the Christmas parcels and the splendid way they were packed to enable them to stand up to the long journey.