PARCEL SCIENCE

Evening Star, Issue 24007, 4 October 1941, Page 16

PARCEL SCIENCE

WHAT THE SOLDIER LIKES • 4 (N.Z.E.F. Official News Service.) CAIRO, September 9. To the soldier serving overseas there is something reminiscent of childhood Christmas mornings in receiving a parcel from home. The soldier would not admit this, of course. He does not dance with eagerness about anything, but nevertheless there is a thrill of anticipation in tearing away the many wrappings of a parcel. Thousands of parcels arrive by every ship which reaches the Middle East from New Zealand, and a largo postal staff is kept busy sorting and delivering them. Almost every home in New Zealand has sonic soldier to whom to send parcels. The question naturally arises: What do soldiers want in parcels? Individual tastes will vary a. groat deal, lint iherc arc certain old favourites which never go amiss, if a Gallup Pol] could be held it is almost certain that tobacco would prove the popular favourite. Most soldiers are smokers, and New Zealand brands are not alwavs obtainable overseas. The New Zealand Forces Club in Cairo supplies a large demand, but it is cheaper to find a tin or two in a parcel. Mothers always remember the quickest wav to a man’s heart, and it is quite true that gifts of something to cat are welcomed by soldiers. Not that they are hungry, hut there are certain delicacies which come from nowhere Ibnt home. High on the list is shortbread. It. keeps well, and. being made with New Zealand butter, surpasses anything that can he bought, in Egypt. Cakes, if (tacked in a tin, will usually keep for a few months, and are always popular among the boys. The Army docs not cater for a sweet tooth, so that chocolate and confections arc welcome. It is not advisable to send chocolate during the Egyptian summer, because it usuallv arrives in a fluid state. If packed in a. tin, though, it can always bo left to harden. Sweets which will not melt, such as toffee and barley sugar are better. The old favourite of the last war—condensed milk—is still popular. It can he used in tea or. just taken neat with a spoon—or without a spoon in manv cases. Cocoa, coffeemilk or malted milk provide some good* Suppers in tents or huts, for there are few soldiers who cannot “ raise ” some hot water when it is needed. A (iot of sandwich or meat paste or peanut butter helps out with dry rations. The range of tinned foods is large, but here the vote goes for those delicacies which are typically New Zealand. Nuts travel well, and are a sound suggestion. “ Socks for soldiers ” still holds as good as ever it did. The more one has the less darning one has to do. Handkerchiefs are alwavs being lost—it is easy to slip a few of these into a parcel. The Army looks after its men well in tbo matter of clothing, and as a soldier lias to carry all ho owns it is not well to overload him in this way. During the summer extra light underclothing is useful, while in the winter mitts or a scarf are often needed. When one adds razor blades, tooth paste, a tooth brush occasionally, boot blacking, and soap, there is a long list to choose from. Care must, be taken not to give a soldier something he cannot eat or cannot carry about with him. There is one soldier who is still wondering what to do with a largo packet of porridge meal. Admittedly he is a Scotsman, but he hasna a pot, and. furthermore, porridge feafared"freouently on the Army menu. Ordinary gifts of food do not Help the soldier much. What he likes are the little delicacies that are not on his everyday table and which serve to vary the camp food.