British Sailors Search City Pot Food Parcels

Northern Advocate, 8 September 1947, Page 3

British Sailors Search City Pot Food Parcels

(Special) AUCKLAND, This Day. OVER 1000 Royal Navy men are searching Auckland for food. The men, from flic aircraft-can ier Theseus and the destroyer Cockade, on leave in a country where a steak meal often produced more meat than a week’s ration coupons in Britain, are searching diligently for suitable food to send home to relieve the austere, post-war diet of many naval families in England.

Through their own efforts ancl with the aid of friends they have met. in Auckland and Wellington, thousands of food parcels will leave New Zealand in the next few months. Most of the men have been only six months away from Britain ancl many describe the conditions they left there as "pretty grim." Although rnessdeek conversations reflected an acute awareness of Britain's critical days, there is little despondency. The main enemy m Britain today was tedious monotony in almost everything, from diet to recreation.

ships' companies and. when they are completed, the society will nave about 1200 addresses to which packages will be sent.

Sailors began sending food parcels home as soon as they left Britain. After making substantial allotments from their pay many have little money left for purchases, but the majority of ratings periodically contribute 5/-. which enables a package to be posted to their homes under a general scheme introduced by the British Pacific Fleet. NOT BUYING TRINKETS

When the ail craft-carrier Glory left Theseus and Cockade in Australian waters she carried a special mail of about 5000 food parcels, all bought by sailors who disdained buying curios and trinkets.

Many other packages had also been posted by friends ashore. Fats, jam and sweet dessert items are the most popular choices in New Zealand ports, though some men who made substantial purchases in Australia have switched their immediate interest from foodstuffs to woollens.

Canned meat is regarded as less important that tinned or dried milk, because of the former’s bulk and weight. Wellington brought a windfall in the shape of an offer by the Royal Society of St George to send a free parcel to the next-of-kin of everyone on board. During the voyage to Auckland forms were distributed among the