GIFTS FOR THE TROOPS

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9210, 2 December 1915, Page 7

GIFTS FOR THE TROOPS

ARRANGEMENTS FOR DISTRIBUTION WORE AT THE NEW ZEALAND BASE. A report regarding the distribution of gifts intended for the New Zealand troops at the front has been received by tbo Defence Minister (Hon. J. Allen) from Lieutenant-Colonel A. B. Charters, the officer in charge of the New Zealand base at Alexandria. The report, which is dated October 12th, describes the arrangements that have been made, and contains softie important suggestions. “I am pleased to report that the gift goods have been arriving regularly, and are being distributed as far as possible, m accordance with instrucwrites Colonel Charters. “The two lots of Wanganui jam have arrived, and have boon distributed to the two New Zealand hospitals and to Lady God ley's Home; but, unfortunately, all the home-made jam went bad coming through the Tropics, and had to be thrown away, while, in addition, a* great number of the glass jars containing jam were broken in transit, and a great deal of fine jam lost. I would suggest that in future all jams should be sent in tins (say 71b tins), as it carries better and keeps better. The jam is very acceptable, as English jam' is. expensive, while the local jam is very poor. “The Red Cross goods are divided between the two New Zealand hospitals, unless specially addressed otherwise. Tho medical officers at No. 1 Stationary assure me that the contents of the bales sent are most useful. “The gifts from the Lady Liverpool fund have been distributed also as far as possible, in accordance with instructions, but, as I have explained to the president of the fund, it is quite impossible to ensure that goods addressed, say, ‘4th Reinforcements,' actually reach those men, seeing that thq reinforcements fife embodied in the main force immediately they arrive; they are, however, sent over with tbo other goods, and doubtless this O.C. units do their best to distribute. “Gifts addressed to particular units ftfe bold bntil there is ah officer of that same unit embarking overseas; he signs for his j unit’s gifts and takes proper precautions for safeguarding them. ThOre has been consistent thieving on transports between hero and Anzac, and experience has shown us that the only sale method of dispatching gifts, is to hand to, say, a Canterbury Infantry officer, gifts for Canterbury Infantrymen, and so on. This occasionally entails a little delay, hut my experience has taught me that the delay is worth while. “The last received cases of gifts were sent in charge of Brigadier-General Russell, who, being O.C. troops on board the transport, was able to place the cases in a lock-up room. We take every precaution in placing goods on board the Ships, sending nothing except in charge of an officer, and taking his signature for everything sent. More than this we cannot do, and I think the system has worked very well. “The gifts of money, as, for instance, that Cabled on September Bth, are divided as far as possible equally between Cairo and Alexandria. Will you please convey to the donors —natives and others, Tokomaru Bay, Chetwode school girls (whoso £ls was immediately made available for No. 1 Now Zealand hospital), Miss Barniooat, Petone, To Awamutu Defence Committee, Nelson Empire Defence Committee, Reefton Patriotic Committee, Vacuum Oil Company, Wellington, the Ngatipourons—our sincere thanks on behalf of the lads on whom tho money is spent. I think they may rest assured that it is expended to tho best advantage. “In conclusion, I should add that sufficient comforts from those ex Maheno and Willochra, for every man at tho front, wore dispatched as early as possible; and all men on detachment in Egypt (at base, with transport, etc.), were also supplied, tho balance being that which would have gone to the killed and missing, being retained in store as a reserve against winter. No gifts were sent over during August, as owing to the heavy fighting and casualties, no unit would have had an opportunity of distributing, and groat waste would have ons’ued. 3