FOOD PARCELS

Putaruru Press, Volume XXI, Issue 1240, 24 July 1947, Page 8

FOOD PARCELS

ENQUIRIES AS TO NEED In reply to a letter from the Putaruru 'branch of the Returned Services’ Association, seeking information as to whether there was a real need for food parcels by the people of Britain, and whether pensions and finances available to those concerned, were adequate to purchase requirements, the general secretary of the Dominion headquarters of the R.S.A. stated in a letter: — “The letters received from recipients of the first 500 food parcels sent to necessitous ex-servicemen indicated very clearly the dire nec- ■ essity in which that category of the British people are existing. One reply was from a couple, man and wife, both over -60 years of age, who have not been able for the past six years to bake a pie until the receipt of an association food parcel. “The rate of the Imperial war pensions was increased not so long ago, and that allowance is sufficiently adequate apart from funds available per medium of the British Legion, that is, fro'm poppy day, etc., to enable them to purchase ordinary requirements of food. It was , efonsidered that both pensions and the funds available are adequate.” The president, Mr P. D. Morrison, stated that it was as members had thought. However, the letter fully clarified the matter. Recipient’s Thanks Thu first letter to be received by the Putaruru branch, in reply to its letters to ten families in Gloucester, England, advising that they were sanding them food parcels, was tabled at last week’s meeting, and was from a Mrs, Jean Biggs. Mrs. Biggs stated that she was a widow, 58 years of. age. Her hiis. band had been killed in the war. One son had been a prisoner of war in 'Germany for five years, and Since liis return home had been in hospital with tuberculosis. Her other son had recently returned homo after four years service with the Navy. “Please let me thank all of your folks over there for their great kindness,” wrote * Mrs. Biggs. She had not as yet received the parcel, but would write again as soon as it arrived. It would be a welcome gift, and they were ’all very, very grateful