YOUNG NEW ZEALAND

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 4 August 1941, Page 2

YOUNG NEW ZEALAND

IS LANDING ITS OWN ARMY FROM WAR ZONE equipment direct from the war zone are the latest craze with New Zealand children. One of the reasons is that they have seen the soldiers taken out by little But children left behind in Britain are having to go without their toys so that they may be exported to help pay for the war. In London, the world's largest makers of toy soldiers, who use about 500 tons of lead to make 12.500,000 items a year, are now working entirely upon export orders, and many of these are for New Zealand. The United States are buying live or six times as many British toy soldiers as they did before the war, and children there are showing special interest in the Anzacs lighting in the Near East. Young New Zealand is keenly interested m boxes of their own infantry regiments. but they are also buying a wide rar.gc of toy soldiers. from Greek Evzones to pilots of the German Luftwaffe. Modern mechanical warfare is reflected in the strong demand for the latest models of tanks, aeroplanes. Bren-gun carriers, barrage balloon units. Army lorries and motor cyclists. Despite these innovations, however, old favourites in pre-1914 uniforms and Highlanders in full dress are still wantAnd many New Zealand children still prefer the traditional cowboys Indians, and native warriors, while there is a steady demand for model home farms, with miniature animals.