SOLDIERS’ PARCELS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 23 June 1943, Page 3

SOLDIERS’ PARCELS

r QUALITY MAINTAINED QUARTERLY QUOTAS FROM NELSON AVERAGE COST OF 8s During the past year the Nelson r Provincial Patriotic Council has t provided a total of 5617 soldiers’ parcels at an average cost of 8s 1 per parcel. In connection with the parcels the annual report presented at last night’s 1 meeting stated:— 1 “During the year under review, the • j following parcels were forwarded to the r I National Board as our quota of the total ‘ } number required for distribution to all ' i members of the fighting forces wherever they are stationed: —August, 1942, ’ j 1265; October, 1942 (Christmas parcels), 1152 February, 1943, 1600; April, 1943, - 1600; total, 5617. The next shipment of 1 1600 parcels will be made on the 31st f July while the Christmas parcels will ■ be packed on or about 9th October. ? “As in the past, the contents have been in accordance with the list sug- . gested by the National Board’s repret sentative in the field and from com- - ments received these appear to have ? I met with the general approval of the | recipients. j “After deducting sales tax which has been refunded by the Customs Depart- ! ment to a total of £173 for the year, the cost of each parcel averaged Bs, an in--7 crease on last year's cost, due of course, ' to the general rise in prices. Donations received through the Patriotic • Controlling Committees for this express - purpose have been sufficient to cover the total cost and in almost every in- > stance donor cards for each donation , made have been included in the parcels. ' In most cases the donor cards have i been been returned with an expression of thanks and appreciation, t “The executive is pleased to note that j the form of parcels and method of 1 packing adopted by the Parcels Com--1 mittee has attracted the attention of . other Provincial Councils several of . whom have asked for particulars and . expressed their intention of adopting a similar procedure. PACKING WORK ; “To a number of Nelson city women, to boys and girls of Nelson Colleges and - to members of the City Patriotic Com- - mittee and other helpers the Parcels • Committee and this council are indebted - for efficient and willing work in pack- • ing the parcels. To Messrs Kirkpatrick [ and Co. for making and sealing cake tins free of cost and to Messrs Buxtons ; Ltd. and staff for collecting money for . parcels over their counter, and for • making available at some inconvenience . their commodious hop store for packing . operations, the council is also greatly , indebted. Thanks are also due to the various firms for prompt and speedy deliveries of goods and to the freight services for careful handling.” Mr J. A. Harley saki that the council ! had always aimed at providing the high- ! est possible quality in the goods in the ! Nelson parcels. However, the Rationing Controller had advised that some of ' the materials used for making the cakes in the past were now not available and it appeared that it would be necessary in future to reduce the quality of the cakes. APPRECIATION OI MR HARLEY S SERVICES Mr F. V. Powell said that few people realised the work entailed in assembling the articles for inclusion in the parcels | and in that respect Mr Harley carried i out a very valuable service to the council. Mr Harley had made the parcels a special part of his patriotic work and he moved that the tweeting record its appreciation of Mr Harley's work. Mr J. G. McKay seconded the motion. He referred to the perfect organisation of Mr Harley in connection with the packing of the parcels and to the result of his work in producing a parcel of such a high quality that it set an example for the rest of New Zealand. Mr J. Robertson (Westport) in suppoVting {he motion said that Nelson was fortunate in having so many willing and enthusiastic helpers in the patriotic work. He commented .that there seemed to be a lack of that spirit in Westport where the work was left to a few. The motion was then carried. In reply Mr Harley said that the work would not be possible without the cooperation of about 100 citizens who gave their services in preparing the parcels.