FIJI’S EFFORT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26289, 22 October 1946, Page 8

FIJI’S EFFORT

FOOD GIFTS FOR BRITAIN PROMPT RESPONSE TO APPEAL (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 21. A steady stream of foodstuffs and other urgently needed goods has been pouring from Fiji to Britain during the past three months under the Fijb gifts to Britain scheme, writes the Suva correspondent of the New Zealand Press Association. More than £9OOO has been raised in the past three months. In June the Governor Sir Alexander Grantham, cabled the British Ministry of Food asking if gifts to rellieve the monotony of rationing would be acceptable, and the Ministry replied appreciatively and undertook to pay all freights and to arrange distribution of the gifts. The Fiji Gifts to Brtain Fund was inaugurated by Lady Grantham and five days later the first cargo of gifts was despatched to London. It comprised 4320 tins of pineapple and pinapple juice. * On August 5 another shipment was despatched comprising 42,000 bars of laundry soap, 9600 cakes of toilet soap, 28001 b of fat bacon and 4320 tins of pineapple. Within the next few days a direct ship will take 23,000 bars of laundry soap, 12,000 cakes of toilet soap, 5088 two-pound tins of fruit, and 11201 bof fat bacon. In addition, 300 home-baked Christmas cakes are being sent to individuals under a personal parcels scheme organised by the Women’s Voluntary Service in Britain. All communities of Fiji’s population of 250,000 have played their part, but among the most remarkable efforts has been that of the Fijian provinces which, in spite of the fact that hard cash is not common in the remoter areas, have returned many hundreds of pounds. The Fiji Gifts to Britain Committee, of which Lady Grantham is chairman, intends to keep the appeal open as long as it is needed.