N.Z. AIRMEN IN INDIA

Grey River Argus, 27 November 1943, Page 5

N.Z. AIRMEN IN INDIA

PROVISION OF PARCELS AND COMFORTS. P.A. WELLINGTON, Nov. 26. Replying to complaints alleging lack of interest bv the New . Zealand 'authorities Ijn (Dominion servicemen .stationed in India, the Minister of Defence (Mr Jones) states that during- January and February, 1943, an officer of the R.N.Z.A.F. visited India to investigate conditions there, with the object of appointing a liaison officer if circumstances warranted it. , As a result of his report a liaison officer has since been appointed and arrived in Delhi in September. Meantime arrangements had been made by the first officer to dispatch to personnel in India the newspaper “New Zealand News." issued bv the High CommisS’oner’s office, and the “N.Z.E.F. 'Times.” At the same time the Patriotic Fund Board made arrangements for fhe dispatch of parcels and comforts direct to India. The arrangement previously was for patriotic comforts to be sent via , England to New Zealand air personnel in India, because of their being attached to the Royal Air Force and their names not always being known to the authorities in New Zealand. In March of this year, with the object of establishing more direct contact with these men, the National Patriotic Fund Board appointed Mr .C. R. C. Gardiner, manager of the New Zealand Insurance Company in Bombay as its representative. In J’uly 246 parcels were issued through Mr Gardiner. A small number of parcels was also sent to Flight Lieut. Baird in Colombo for distribution. Subsequently the following parcels have been sent: 450 gift parpels, 520 special gift parcels of cigarettes anq tobacco, and 2500 cigarettes. In addition five hundred pounds in cash has been sent to Mr Gardiner to be used at his discretion for welfare purposes. , Mr Ingles, New Zealand Government representative on the Eastern Group Supply Council, has made arrangements for the removal of customs duty liability on parcels, and arrangements have been made for regular distribution in future.