GIFTS FOR TROOPS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 99, 23 October 1940, Page 7

GIFTS FOR TROOPS

PROVISION MADE

POSITION EXPLAINED

In a statement yesterday afternoon Mr. G. A. Hayden, secretary of the National Patriotic Fund Board, said that reports had reached him indicating that some of the soldiers in the training camps in New Zealand were under a mistaken impression as to what the board was doing for them in those camps and also for the soldiers who had gone overseas. Moreover, it appeared that men invalided back from Egypt were also not fully aware of; the way in which the board was operating on their behalf. Mr. Hayden said that although no attempt had been made to blazon the name of the National Patriotic Fund Board at the expense of the various institutions represented irj the camps, it should be known that the huts in j w,hich the V.M.C.A., Salvation Army, Church Army, and Catholic Church operated had been provided out of the : national fund, and that the activities* of these institutions in the camps were financed solely by the board. That fact did not appear to have been appreciated, although it had been stated publicly more than once. RETURNING MEN'S COMPLAINT. He understood, continued Mr. Hayden, that men who had returned from Egypt complained that up to their departure on August 24 they had received very little from the National Patriotic Fund Board, but that at the same time they praised highly the | work of the V.M.C.A., which they said j had done splendid work in the camp j and provided a mobile canteen for men in forward positions. Mr. Hayden said it was correct that up to August 24 the men had not received as much as the board intended or had in factj dispatched for them, but that was due entirely to the diversion of the Second Echelonl to Great Britain.

Since then, however, fresh supplies of gift parcels had been forwarded to the First Echelon, and the board had remitted to Egypt two sums of £6735 and £4500 respectively for the purchase- of comforts and for the carrying on of activities on behalf of the board. These activities were carried on overseas by the V.M.C.A. Mr. Hayden said he had no doubt, in fact he know, that the work being done by the V.M.C.A. was deserving of the highest praise, but at the same time it was only fair, in view of the criticism that had been made, to make it plain that the Y.M.C.A.'s activities were financed entirely by the National Patriotic Fund Board.

The last report received from Egypt, said Mr. Hayden, stated that the men who had now returned to New Zealand were presented before they left i Egypt with toilet articles and other! gifts, and that also £100 had been advanced to the O.C. troops to arrange] for entertainment while in port en, route. Much had been heard of the; band of the First Echelon, and he: thought it only right to point out that j the instruments for this band had been; purchased out of the -patriotic funds.; Other points were that since the de- i parture of the invalid men a distribu-! tion of 5s per head sterling had been; made to all units for. the purchase of! fresh fruit and vegetables, cigarettes, reading material, and recreational gear, and when the First Echelon left New Zealand £1692 worth of comforts Had been put on board the troopships for the voyage in addition to books and magazines, pianos, and radios.