PARCEL SCIENCE

Hutt News, Volume 15, Issue 20, 15 October 1941, Page 8

PARCEL SCIENCE

WHAT THE SOLDIER LIKES CAIRO, Sept. 9. - To the soldier servng overseas there is something reminiscent of. childhood Christmas mornings in receiving a parcel from home. The soldier would not admit this, of course, He does not dance with eagerness about anything, but nevertheless there is a thrill o£ anticipation' in tearing away the many wrappings ol a parcel. Thousands .of parcels arrive by every ship which reaches the Middle East from New Zealand, and a large postal staff is kept busy sorting and. delivering them. Almost every home In New Zealand haß some soldier to whom to send parcels. The question naturally arises: What do soldiers want in parcels? Individual tastes will vary a great deal, but there are certain old favourites which never go amiss. If a Gallup Poll could be held it 1b almost certain that tobacco would prove the popular favourite. Most soldiers are smokers, and New Zea-

land brands are not always obtainable overseas. The' New Zealand Forces Club in Cairo supplies a large demand, but it is cheaper to

find a tin or two in a-parcel. Mothers always remember the quickest way to a man's heart, and it is quite true that gifts of something to eat are welcomed by soldiers. Not that they are hungry, but there are certain delicacies which come from nowhere but home. , High on the list is: shortbread. It keepß well, and being made with New Zealand butter surpasses anything that can be bought in Egypt. Cakes, if packed in a sealed tin, will usually keep for a few months and are always popular with the boys. The Army does not cater for a sweet tooth, so that chocolate and confections are welcome. It is not advisable to send chocolate during the Egyptian Bummer, because it usually arrives in a fluid state. If packed in a tin, though, it can always be left to harden. Sweets which will not melt, mch as toffee and barley sugar, are oetter. The old favourite or the last #ar. —condensed milk —is still popular. It can be used in tea or just taken neat with a spoon—or without a spoon in many cases. Cocoa, coffee-milk or malted milk provide aome good suppers in tents or huts, for there are few soldiers who cannot "raise" some hot water when it

is needed. A pot of sandwich or meat paste or peanut butter helps Out with dry rations. The range of tinned foous is large, but here the vote goes for those delicacies which are typically New Zealand. Nuts travel well aim. are a sound suggestion. "Socks for Soldiers" still holds as good as ever it did. The, more one has the less darning one has to do. Handkerchiefs are always b.eing lost —it to slip a tew of thesti into a parcel. The Army looks aitei men well in the matter of clothing, and as a soldier has to carry all he owns, it is not well to overload him in this waj. During the summer the extra hfeht underclothing is useful, while in the winter mitts or a scarf are often needed. When one adds razor blades, tooth paste,, a tooth brush occasionally, boot blacking and soap, there is a long list to choose from. Care must be taken not to give a soldier something he cannot eat or something he cannot carry about with him. There is one soldier who is still wondering what to do with a large packet of porridge meal. Admittedly he is a Scotsman, but he hasna a pot, and furthermore porridge features frequently on the Army menu. Ordinary gifts of food do not help the soldier much. What he likes are the little delicacies that are not on his every-day table and which Berve to vary the ca&p lood.

Careful packing is essential in sending parcels overseas. Foodstuffs'. Bhould always be inairtight tliife, and if fehocolate is being sent,

it, too, - shoald be packed l In tins. Stout wrappings, preferably of cloth, thould be used, for in . handling Snahy thousands ofpare&s the postal autfcftdties cannot treat every one as-fragile. wrappings,'.the longer, the suspense in gft'tfiig the. plrcdfofttih. Thi Owner of a parcel is allowed, the privilege of opening it, but, his mates are just as interested as he to see what it tontftins,