MAILS FOR TROOPS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24761, 8 December 1943, Page 4

MAILS FOR TROOPS

FACIFIC FORWARD AREAS THE TASK OF DELIVERY (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday The Postmaster-General, the Hon. P. C. Webb, in emphasising that every effort was being made bv the Post Office and the Army to deliver parcels and newspapers to troops in the Pacific forward areas at the earliest possible moment, referred to factors which might contribute to delay. These included shipping reasons and diversions or delays at ports of call owing to service or security reasons. The Minister said that on arrival in forward areas mails have to be unloaded in an open roadstead into barges and transported to safe storage. , To reach units in the more forward areas mails are reloaded on barges or other small ships, but these vessels carry limited loads, ahd munitions, war equipment and food must have preference. However, mail is given high priority, and when it arrives in operational areas it is again landed on a beach, where field postal officers take change and deliver it to units as circumstances permit, mostly by barge. "Mails are protected by tarpaulins," Mr. Webb continued, "and, considering that in many cases there are onlyjungle tracks with daily rain and humid conditions, the delivery is excellent, made possible only by the splendid co-opera-tion of all personnel handling mail." In the circumstances eight to twelve weeks would not be excessive, and five weeks would be speedy for delivery of parcels and newspapers. STATE GARDENS WORK FOR WOMEN "AN EXCELLENT SUN TAN" "The work that women do at the State vegetable gardens is light and attractive," said Mr. W. A. Leggatt. the manpower officer's representative, at a sitting of the Auckland Manpower (Industrial) Committee yesterday, when an appeal by Arkle and Son against the direction of Miss I. A. Mac Donald to the Department of Agriculture was heard. "These women go around in shorts and can acquire an excellent sun tan," continued Mr. Leggatt. "They do not have to work in the rain, and there are men to do the heavy tasks. Several groups of married women have approached mo to volunteer for this work in the attitude of martyrs who intend to do their bit for the country, but after a very short period they have found the job light and attractive."

"Had you left it at 'light' I would have agreed with you," said Mr. W. J. Truscott, the employers' representative. Mr. R. S. Harrop, secretary of the Master Bakers' Association, appearing for the appellants, said that if Miss Mac Donald was taken away, the firm would have to consider closing down. The appeal was dismissed. SEWERAGE SCHEME (0.C.) TE AWAMUTTJ, Tuesday The Te Awamutu Borough Council, at a meeting last night, decided to apply to the Local Government Loans Board for permission to raise a loan, subject to a poll of ratepayers, for a now sewerage scheme, designed to serve the town for many years. Mr. Ralph Worley, Auckland, submitted plans, estimating the cost at £25,000, and sanction is being sought to raise this sum.