GIFTS FOR TROOPS

Grey River Argus, 11 September 1940, Page 7

GIFTS FOR TROOPS

Overseas Despatch ' WELLINGTON, September 10. The comprehensiveness of the goods sent overseas through the national patriotic organisation is shown in the lists of articles shipped with each echelon. They range from pen nibs to feature talking-films. Usually, about 100 different classes of goods arc put aboard for voyage use. including atlases and books, writing material, games, tobacco, and scarves and mittens. In the goods not wanted on Ihe voyage are some imposing quantities. For example, with one echelon were 5,000 cases of apples, 10,843 balaclavas, .5,760 lbs. of cake, 9,000 gift parcels, 16 cases of malt, 2,664 pairs of mittens and gloves, and 2,847 scarves, besides biscuits, tinned fruit and meats, soups, malted milk, coffee and cocoa, playing cards, indoor games etc.

Special Concessions FOR MAILS TO TROOPS. Parcels for Britain can still be sent through Post Offices at ordinary rates, but special concessions arcmade where the parcels are for members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force at Home or in Egypt stated the Chief Postmaster at Greymouth, Mr. C. W. Browne, . when questioned regarding Christmas des-, patches. “The remission of money to New Zealand troops in England or in Egypt, he said, was. limited to £2O in twelve months, but that sum could be sent in one instalment, the money being paid in to the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. To cable the money cost 5s extra. Small sums of money up to £1 may be sene to private persons in the United Kingdom, at the discretion of the Post Office authorities, but for greater sums, application has to be made for permission to the Reserve Bank, and the reasons given for the desire to send the money out of the country. A British Postal Order for five shillings may be sent, but should a person endeavour to send a' number of orders of that value at the one time, he would be liable to prosecution under the regulations forbidding the sending of money out of New Zealand. . The special postage rates for parcels to be sent to members of the forces in England or Egypt are: Not more than three pounds Is, not more than seven pounds 2s, and from seven to 11 pounds 4s. Addington Camp SUCCESS OF N.M. W.C. REGIMENT. A competition was held at Addington on .September 3 for the most efficient platoon from the units there assembled. Considerable interest was displayed in the competition, the platoon chosen' to represent each unit putting in a good deal of training. The platoon from Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast Regiment reached first place, with the platoons from the N.Z. Scottish, Ist. Southland' and Ist. Otago coming in that order. | The competition resulted in a finish- ( ed display of platoon drill and rifle exercises. Sergeant D. Kerr, of Nelson, was in charge of the winning platoon. The course concluded on September 7 when most of the offices and men returned home on leave until September 27, when the Battalion will be mobilised for camp at Burnham. About 30 officers and men from the local Regiment will be at Addington until September 21 for special training, the Commanding Officer also being held for a senior officers’ course until September 13. Reports from Addington state that the men are fit and well and looking forward to a “spot of leave.” The Ist. N.M. and W.C., N.Z. Scottish, and the Otago Regiments will assemble at Burnham on September 27, and Ist. Southland at Forbury Park, Dunedin on the same date, for three months’' training.