GIFTS FOR SOLDIERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9172, 12 October 1915, Page 6

GIFTS FOR SOLDIERS

CHRISTMAS-BOXES FOR FIRING LINE. Fran Association, " WANGANUI, October 11. A proposal which the Wanganui Patriotic Committee considers will solve the problem of providing* the men at the front with Christmas comforts comes from the London committee, of which Mr Cecil Wray, a well-know r n Zealander, is chair* man and several prominent New Zealanders are members. The ;.London committee will make up, pack, . and ship parcels containing tobacco, cigarettes, * and other specified, articles constituting an. acceptable gift, at * cost of 3s Id per parcel. To enable this to he done, all the money must be .remitted by the end of November. The contents of each parcel would represent a much greater value' than could be'sent from here at the same cost, and the Wanganui committee has approved the scheme and decided to ask all other committees to co-operate on the basis of a 4s parcel, so as to enable cake to bo added to the contents. A sum of £2OO will provide a thousand parcels. ' SOUTHLAND SUGGESTION. , COMPLAINT ABOUT UNDELIVER ED GOODS. Press Association. DUNEDIN. October 11. At a meeting! of the Patriotic Asso* elation, a letter from the Southland Patriotic Committee was read suggest, ing the co-ordination, of all the. patriotic committees and the sending of all gifts for soldiers to the Defence authorities for indiscriminate issue, insuring that all'men should be treated alike. Mr Speight Said he had sent ft number of boxes to the front, and he had been told it was almost impossible for the men to receive them. He had been told there were 700 tons of gifts in store, which could not he handled; The Rev. Father Coffey said he had been informed by Mrs O’Neill that she liad sent two parcels a week to her husband (Dr O’Neill) since he left the Dominion, but ha had not received any. The ladies’ committee was authorised to draw on the association to the extent of £IOO if it was thought necessary to supplement the gifts sent. •