GIFTS FOR SOLDIERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 February 1940, Page 4

GIFTS FOR SOLDIERS

PATRIOTIC COUNCIL’S DECISIONS

Some difficulties that have arisen in

connection with the parcels given to > men who join the Expeditionary Force, were mentioned by Mrs. F. W. Shallcrass at the meeting, last evening, of the Westland Provincial Patriotic

Council, which she attended, with Mrs. F. A. Kitchingham, as a deputation from the Greymouth Women’s Patriotic Committee. Mrs. Shallcrass said that the standard parcel decided on by the Council might, the committee felt, prove rather expensive to keep going. It worked out at about 7/6 a man. Another question was as to when the parcels should be given to the men, when they were going into camp, or when they .were home on final leave. The Greymouth committee presented its parcels to the men before they went into camp, but other districts did not. The result was that when the men paraded at the Drill Hall there were sometimes men from other districts who had not received gifts, and, as they did not like to see them passed over they gave them parcels. The Greymouth committee would like to see some uniformity in the matter. Mr. D. J. Evans said that the Hokitika committee preferred to give the gifts to the men when they were on final leave. All the men who went into camp did not go away. Some were discharged for various reasons, and the Hokitika committee felt it was not right to give gifts, which would not be used for the purp’ose for- what they were intended. >■ Mr. P. J. McLean said he thought it would be better to give the gifts when the men were on final leave.

Mrs. Shallcrass said that the few, who were given gifts and were later discharged from camp, would be less than the number who did not return to the West Coast for final leave. Mr. McLean said that the names of those who were going away could be obtained .from the Defence Department.

Referring to another difficulty, Mrs. Shallcrass said that in Christchurch they were still giving the meh “housewife”. outfits. i

Mr. Perry: I have been told that not one man in five uses a “housewife.” Besides the Government said they would supply these outfits. Regarding the question as to when the parcels should be distributed, Mr. F. A. Kitchingham said it seemed very cold to line up the men at the Drill Hall when they weye going into camp and not give them anything. Mr. J. B. Kent said that, when the men went into camp, they went in a body, but when they returned from final leave they went at different times. It was easier to distribute the gifts when the men went into camp. PUBLIC FAREWELLS Mr. H. Herring said that a public farewell could be held <for the men during their final' leave. In this way they would contact all the men, At present, the men went to camp in small sections, but on final leave they could be all got together and a decent farewell held. Mr. Perry: The difficulty is, as Mrs. Shallcrass pointed out, that all the men who enlist in this district do not return here for final leave. Mr. J. Smeaton said they had that difficulty in Brunner as many of the men who enlisted from there had come from all over New Zealand to work in the mines. Mr. Perry said the soltion of the difficulty seemed to be to present the men with some small token when they went into camp, and then something more substantial on final leave. Mrs. Shallcrass said that the men should be suitably recognised when they went into camp. Even if a man were discharged subsequently through illness, he had done his best and deserved some recognition. Mr. Smeaton said that in the smaller centres the people were in favour of giving the men a farewell social on final leave, and they would not like to let such functions pass without makingsome tangible recognition. Mr. Perry said that the Council would not interfere with friends of the men recognising them in this way. .1

Mr. Kitchingham expressed the opinion that it would throw a heavy burden on the ladies to have one presentation for the men when they were going into camp, and another when they were on final leave. Mrs. Shallcrass: Besides being a drain on the funds.

In reply to Mr. McKane, Mrs. Shallcrass said that the present system was for all unclaimed parcels to be sent to Burnham camp, to be given to the men concerned.

After further discussion it was decided, on the'motion of Mr. J. A. Murdoch, seconded by Mr. Kitchingham, that the gift parcels should be presented to the men when they were going into camp.

COST OF GIFTS With regard to the cost of the parcel, Mr. McKane said that 7/6'- was not very much to give a man going away. Mrs. Shallcrass: The question is, can we keep it up to the end of the war? . • | Mr. Evans said that the standard parcel decided on by the council was two pairs of socks, two handkerchiefs and cigarettes. Mr. W. Clayton: We could hardly give anything less. It was decided that the standard parcel should be retained. Mrs. Shallcrass said that the Greymouth committee had spent £2B on socks and £5 on handkerchiefs. However, stocks were likely to get short, and it might be advisable to buy ahead of immediate requirements. So far, the committee had received only four pairs of hand-knitted socks. Mr. Perry said that in the Hokitika district the women were getting busy at knitting, and probably they would have the same experience in Greymouth.

It was decided that, as regards funds for purchases, Mrs. Shallcrass should get into touch with Mr. Evans as occasion arose.

Mr. Evans said he thought that in buying, the committees should patronise local firms as far as possible, instead of sending away tq, the big wholesale firms. They might save' a little by buying from the wholesalers, but they had to remember that they looked to the local business people and their staffs to support the local patriotic funds.

Mrs. Shallcrass said that, so far as possible, the Greymouth committee had purchased from the local shops. It was agreed that purchases be left to the discretion of the Women’s Committees, with the understanding that preference be given to local firms, if possible. ■ -

OTHER BUSINESS The National Patriotic Board, Wellington, advised that branches of the Returned Soldiers’ Association would assist in collecting gifts and goods for the troops. Mr. Evans said that district committees could now apply to local branches of the R.S.A. for help in any collection. Another letter from the National Board stated that a National Fund collection would take place during the last week in February, and a collection by the Y.M.C.A. and Salvation Army for the sick and wounded in the week ending March 16. I

A statement of receipts and expenditure from the Greymouth Women’s Committee showed a credit of £24 3/2. - ;

A letter was received stating that a Patriotic Committee had been constituted in Brunner. The Hokitika committee wrote asking that Mr. A. R. Elcock (Deputy Mayor) be authorised to appoint collectors, also requesting permission to enlarge the committee, and forwarding accounts approved for payment -totalling £4O/7/7, mainly incurred for

Red Cross work. —The requests were granted. The financial statement showed the following details: —Amount previously; acknowledged £2Ol/9/4, Grey County 1 contribution £57/10/-. N.Z. Breweries, donation £5O, Branch, Grey Committee £24/3/2, West Coast Master Bakers’ Assn. —donation £lO/10/-, Ernest Adams, Ltd., donation £lO, All Saints’ Church, Collection Hokitika Thanksgiving Service £7/6/8, Brunner Patriotic Committee —proceeds from farewell function 12/6, Kokatahi Ball, Mesdames Fleming and Woolhouse, £9/13/2, J. A. Havill—donation £5, Franz Josef Women’s Institute. Ball £l5, Discounts 5/-. Total £391 9/10.

Expenditure to Date: Gifts, soldiers at Burnham, Christmas £l5, sundry a/cs. Hokitika, wool £9/13/6, sundry a/cs. Hokitika, gifts £4/10/9, Women’s Branch, Greymouth, Imprest £2O, Reefton Branch, sundry a/cs. £ll/12/-, Hokitika Branch, on a/c. Red Cross Appeal £4O/7/7. Total £lOl/3/10.