GIFTS FOR TROOPS

Grey River Argus, 13 December 1940, Page 3

GIFTS FOR TROOPS

N.Z. Despatches Overseas HOW MAILS ARE GOING. WANGANUI, December 12. Mr Webb, in an interview, said that considerable advantage had been taken by the public of the 9d concession air-mail rate to New Zealand and Australian soldiers overseas. However, some people were posting letters at the reduced rate to private persons in the United Kingdom. He emphasised that the concession applied only to New Zealand and Australian soldiers, and letters addressed to private individuals will be surcharged double the deficiency, on delivery. A number of air-mail letters have also been posted at the reduced rate to Air Force trainees serving in Canada, which is not served by the Empire’ service, and such letters will be despatched by the first surface mail. The Minister said that New Zealand had been particularly fortunate in the despatch and receipt of mails with Great Britain since the outbreak of hostilities, notwithstanding the loss of several vessels in the direct service between New Zealand and the United Kingdom. It so happened that the Post Office had not used these vessels for the despatch of mails, except in small quantities of shipping documents only. A major loss occurred through the sinking of the Niagara. She was conveying mails to North America only, mails for the United Kingdom having been diverted by a fast steamer in the direct service. In the Christmas mail for the New Zealand forces in the Middle East there were over 35,000 parcels, and the amount of work involved would be appreciated. The mail consisted of over 3000 bags. In addition, the Christmas mail despatched to the forces in the United Kingdom contained over 10,000 parcels in 1000 bags. With the exception of a small mail despatched early in May to the Middle East, no mails for the forces overseas had been lost in transit Telegrams to our troops in all localities abroad can now be sent at the low charge of 2s 6d. Over 11,000 such messages were handled last month.

GENERAL FREYBERG’S PRAISE. WELLINGTON December 12. High praise for the gift parcels forwarded to the New Zealand troops through the National Patriotic Fund Board, and for the attention to their welfare generally, is given by General Freybefg, in a letter to the Board. In a postscript, in his own handwriting, he says that no troops are better cared for than ours. “There is no doubt,” he says in the letter, “that the gifts are greatly appreciated, and the day for opening the parcels was like a birthday for everybody. If those responsible for getting together this generous collection of gift parcels could have seen them being distributed and opened, here in Egypt, I know they would have felt that their trouble was well repaid. May I thank you, on behalf of all ranks, for giving us such a pleasant surprise.” It appears that some of the equipment sent to the troops in Egypt must have gone astray, and there has been interference in transit with a number of cases of goods, Mr G. A. Hayden (secretary to the Board) said to-day. He regretted to announce that he had been advised by the Board’s representative in Egypt that, while fresh consignments had come to hand indications were that equipment had gone astray, either on the water or between the wharf and the camp; also, it had been found that cases had been broken open and systematically rifled.

The' goods referred to, Mr Hayden said, might have been part of a consignment which had to be got ready at six hours’ notice, in an endeavour to replace parcels which went to England when the Second Echelon was diverted there. It had not been possible to wire all these cases, and to send them with army stores, which was the normal procedure.

ably the best three-year-old trotter ever raced in this country. RACING FIXTURES. December 14 —Otaki-Maori R.C. December 14 —Waipa R.C. December 14—Hororata R.C. December 21— Manawatu R.C. December 26—Waipukurau J. C. December 26, 28— Manawatu R.C. December 26, 28—Dunedin J.C. December 26, 28—Taranaki J.C. December 26, 30, January 1, 2—Auckland R.C. December 28—Westland R.C. January I—Wyndham1—Wyndham R.C. January I—Waikouaiti R.C. January 1 2—Wairarapa R.C. January 1, 2—Marton R.C. January 1, 2—Stratford R.C. January 1, 2—Hawke’s Bay J.C. January 1, 2 —Greymouth J’.C. January 2 —Oamaru J.C. January 2, 3 —Southland R.C. J'anuary 9, 11—Reefton J.C. January 10, 11—Vincent J.C. anuary 16, 18, 22—Wellington R.C. January 18 —Wairio J.C. January 18, 20—Thames J.C. j'anuary 22—Ashburton-Pohangina

R.C. January 25, 29—Auckland R.C. January 25, 27—Pahiatua R.C. January 30, February I—Wairoa R.C.

In Australia. December 14—Rosehill R.C. December 14—V.T. and R.A. December 18—Ascot R.C. December 21—Williamstown Comp. December 21, 26 —A.J'.C. December, 26—V.A.T.C. December 28—Mentone T.C. December 28, January I—Tattersall’s Club. January I—V.R.C.1 —V.R.C.

TROTTING FIXTURES. December 14 —Roxburgh T.C. (nontotalisator). December 21—Reefton T.C. December 26—Ashburton T.C. December 26 —Gore T.C. December 26, 27—Westport T.C. December 27, 28, 31—Auckland T.C. December 28 —Wihton T.C. January 1, 2—Canterbury Park T.C. January 4, 6—Greymouth T.C. January 11—Cambridge T.C. January 11—Timaru T.C. January 22 25—Wanganui I.C. January 23, ‘ 25—Forbury Park T.C. January 30, February I—Wellington T.C. February B—Canterbury Park T.C. February 8, 12—Auckland T.C. February 15’ —New Brighton T.C.