MAIL FOR TROOPS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 218, 13 August 1940, Page 2

MAIL FOR TROOPS

COMPLAINT OF DELAYS. PACKETS NOT RECEIVED. AUCKLAND, Aug. 12. Complaints regarding the no 1?" delivery of newspapers and parcels posted to Egypt continue to be received in Auckland in letters from soldiers in the First Echelon. The latest air mail brings news that it is about three months since some of the troops saw a New Zealand newspaper ; the soldiers are mystified as to the whereabouts ot parcels, which are said to be a stand--111 “For °a while I had a suspicion that all was not well in New Zealand, writes one man to his family m Auckland. “We thought they were holding our newspapers for that reason. 1 has been no mention of anything that in our letters, so we assume that is not the reason. We would like know the reason, because it is naid fair to us,' or to New Zealanders who send us parcels and papers. The writer adds: “I am P re P ared ™ wager that outside a lew cigar ° notfl per cent, of the First Echelon have received any of the so-called gifts.” NEWS SERVICES.

Referring to the dislocation of co municatious through the entry of Italy ! into the war, and expressing f e © \ ’that papers were not being dehve c las regularly as desired, the Directoi of Publicity (Mr J. T. Paul) made an explanation of the news services being transmitted from Wellington “the services consist of a daily radio news broadcast to Egypt and regulai dispatches of newspaper clippings week,” said Mr Paul. “On arr.val i Egypt the clippings are collated and issued throughout the camp as ai mail news. These services are regarded as wholly satisfactory and are bung extended.” . Mr Paul said large supplies of comforts in manv forms were distributed among the First Echelon on board transport ships during the voyage from New Zealand. A large consignment ot gift parcels and 5000 cases of app and supplies of cigarettes were sen for the First Echelon by the ships of the Second Echelon, which were diverted to Britain. Shipping problems militated against sending regular supplies, but 866 cases of comforts had been consigned to Egypt. “A sum of £l3 000 has been remitted to Escvpt by the National Patriotic Board ” for sick and wounded, and authority lias been given to operate on the fund,” Mr Paul added.

The use of the air mail in preference to the usual mode of despatch is urged in a letter received in Palmerston North from a member of the First Echelon. “Wo have received the letters sent by air. but all yours referred to as not having been sent by air have not yet been received.” states the writer. “You will appreciate how much we enjoy receiving letters from home when we urge sending them by air.