GIFT FOOD PARCELS

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 August 1946, Page 9

GIFT FOOD PARCELS

NO ACCUMULATION IN BRITISH STORES

[N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent.]

(Rec. 9.25 a.m.) LONDON, July 31. Of the total of 7193 cases food parcels received from New Zealand since January 1, only 778 cases have not been distributed. An additional 5314 tons of perishable foodstuffs and 352 carcases of pork and lamb -received as gifts from New Zealand were handed over to the commodity division of the Ministry oi Food for’ distribution through the normal rationing channels. The proceeds from these perishable foodstuffs will be credited to the Ministry’s overseas food gifts centre for the purchase of tinned and other nonperishable food, which can be individually allocated. The recent allegations that large quantities of gift food parcels sent from Australia and New Zealand have been allowed to accumulate in dock warehouses and that the food is deteriorating as a result has been fully investigated and proved quite unfounded. In the first place, owing to the large response to appeals overseas, the task of distributing the gift parcels proved too large for the staff available, but this has now been increased. and, in the case of New Zealand at least, the quantities of food stuffs remaining in store are small. The stored goods are classified as non-perishable and steps will be taken by the Ministry to release all peris h a bl e foodstuffs immediate 1 y.