CHRISTMAS GIFTS

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 85, 8 October 1915, Page 3

CHRISTMAS GIFTS

FOR SOLDIERS AT THE FRONT. SOME USEFUL INFORMATION. FOR GUIDANCE OP PUBLIC. So many enquiries have been made relative to the arrangements by the Department of Internal Affairs fpr the receipt and despatch of Christmas giftß for the soldiers at the front that it will be of interest to the general public to know exactly what is being done in the matter. During the past week cases of gift goods have been received in Wellington by practically every train and steamer. In addition large numbers of parcels have been received through the Post Office, while cases and parcels from the local committees and the public generI ally have been brought to the Transport Oflice, No. 3 Shed, King's Wharf. The cases and parcels received are divided into four groups : — (1) For the individual officer or soldier ; (2) For _ the soldiers in a particular unit ; « (3) For New Zealand soldiers irrespective of what district they may come from; and (4) Miscellaneous, under which cases and packages addressed to the Officer Commanding, N.Z. Base Depot, Alexandria, the medical officers in charge of hospitals, sundry other officers of the New Zealand Forces, and cases which are addressed either to the Undersecretary, Internal Affairs Department, or to Captain Bilton, Transport Officer, containing parcels for individual soldiers in various regiments. In regard to cases for the individual soldier and those specially addressed to officers commanding, or medical officers at the front, each case is carefully^ examined to make certain that it is of sufficient durability to carry through to destination. In a number of minstances cases have been found not to be strong enough, and these are being strengthened either by the provision of battens or by being crated. Small cases "also about which there may be fear of their going astray in transit, are being packed together in crates. In every case the address is checked, and if found to be insufficient, this is rectified. Many of the cases simply bear label addresses, and in regard to these the address is printed on the case itself before despatch, to the transport. Parcel* which are Received Loose for Individual Soldiers. — In respect to these, the parcels" have been sorted out according to Main Expeditionary Force or Reinforcements, Nos. 1 to 7, as the case may be. This, therefore, ensures that all' small packages which have been received for individual soldiers for the Main Expeditionary Force are in one case, and the same applies to those for soldiers of the Ist, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, sth, 6th, and 7th Reinforcements. Each case has printed on it "Christmas Gifts for Individual Soldiers of (Main Expeditionary Force 'or Reinforcements, No. given), c/o Officer Commanding, New Zealand Base Depot, Alexandria." In addition a large number of parcels have been received for "Any of the New Zealand Soldiers." These are made up in separate cases, addressed "Christmas Gifts for any New Zealand Soldiers, c/o Officer Commanding, New Zealand Base Depot, Alexandria." Further, parcels for soldiers who are known to be in Egypt are being packed separately and will show distinctive marks to enable the Officer Commanding, New Zealand Base Depot, Alexandria, to deal specially with them. Every case and parcel received is immediately numbered and full particulars recorded of the addressee, and the name of sender if given. In addition to the particulars of all cases shipped -which will appear on 'the ship's manifest, a typed list is being prepared for despatch by the transport to the Officer Commanding, New Zealand Base Depot, Alexandria, showing the following particulars : — The number and address on each case, with name of sender, and in respect to those cases which contain parcels packed by the Department, the number on parcel, and the name of the soldier, with regimental number. Everything that can possibly be done by the Department to assist Colonel Charters by furnishing him with full particulars of each case of Christmas gifts despatched is being carried out.