SOLDIERS’ PARCELS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9690, 19 June 1917, Page 8

SOLDIERS’ PARCELS

SELKIRK SOLDIER'S SUGGESTION. COUPONS INSTEAD OF COMFORTS I‘AIKEL. Writing from “Somewhere in France, AV. Anderson, a Selkirk soldier, says “As you say, there will be many changes in the old Royal Burgh and doubtless majly more beiore this business is finishediA It does seem a ‘Long Uay to Tipperary,’ and the silver lining we. hear so much about is rather an uncertain business. 1 note you have a few wounded officers at the Duke of Bucclech’s place at Bowhill. I note from the local you are still sending good paresis to the men at the front, but so far X have not been one of the luckyonees. . . . I am not quite' sure if parcels are tie best things to send out to France. Manv of the things, sent -must be of little use as, for clothing, the Army provides fairly well for us. AVe can always do with eatables, but when a parcel arrives it is eaten up all at once, as we have not the facilities for keeping foodstuffs of any kind. It would be much better it a .system of coupons could be arranged so that a book of these could bo sent, and the Y.M.C.A. and Expeditionary Force Canteen accept these coupons for payment—say a book of 12, value 3d each. This would allow a soldie rto get what small things he required and only when he did require them. A 3s book of -this kind would bo of more value than a 5s parcel, and, unlike a postal order, they could not be spent on drink. All over France thenare ar.v amount of these places, and 1 am sure some such system would l>e a great success and save a vast amount of labour with the post office and valuable space in our mail boats. I once had one of the Selkirk parcels delivered bo me a year past Christmas, but I was taken away to hospital before I got it touched, so my chums got the benefit. I never get parcels 'even sent rroni home, as the postage is s oexcessive, ana most things can be bought as cheap here a« at home, and food even cheaper. So I get postal orders instead and have the money to buy suppers or anything I require, and we certainly require many little things, and I. hare at least a right good super, outside every night. Of coursa, I see all the boys write home braising the narcels, but you can understand that it would look ungrateful if thev did not do so. However, I have given you a hint, and I am certain it is worth considering. Not getting home is rcallv the worst thing we older men have to bear. Fancy only seeing your v-ife and children once in two years and little prospect of seeing them for many months. It is very hard on married men. and women, too, and even the children. Our life is on© of grey, dull monoton v I am much better here than the last time I was in France, and from bein~ in the hardest hospital in Prance I am now in the best, at least in many respects. AVe get out every night withrat having to get passes. On Sunday afternoons I often visit the graves of our fallen heroes, each marked with a small cross, with name, number and rank. Germans also’ are all marked,- also French and Belgians. It is indeed a sad sight. AVe have often Been German airships go over in daylight, while our air craft are as common as birds.”