COMFORTS FOR TROOPS

Southland Times, Issue 24210, 21 August 1940, Page 6

COMFORTS FOR TROOPS

Organization And

Planning

GIFTS DEPOT IN WELLINGTON

If a patriotic organization is to be really effective and successful not, only must it continue to have the goodwill and support of the community, but the organization itself must see to it that continuity of supplies of comforts for the fighting services is preserved. This does not allow for any slackening of effort; on the contrary the amount of work and responsibility involved and the volume of comforts required are growing all the time. Throughout the country, ever since the departure of the 2nd Echelon, preparations have been in hand for the building up of further large stocks of goods, which pass from time to time through the National Patriotic Fund Board’s gifts depot in Wellington, the clearing centre for the Dominion (says a statement issued by the board). The provision of gift parcels (unaddressed gift parcels) and the packing and dispatch of them has been a big job on its own, for New Zealand now has two echelons overseas and the idea is to collect sufficient parcels of comforts to enable one to be given to each man. This is what is officially known as the National Patriotic Fund Board’s “unaddressed gift parcels scheme.” It was designed to ensure that every member of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force overseas receives something from this country from time to time. Unfortunately, the first consignment of gift parcels from this country did not reach the Ist Echelon in Egypt, because of the destination of the ships in which they were carried being changed after departure from New Zealand. The 2nd Echelon got those parcels, but since then it has been possible for the National Patriotic Fund Board to send a fresh supply of parcels for the Ist Echelon.

SUPPLIES DISPATCHED Altogether since the 2nd Echelon left the Dominion 1494 cases of comforts have been cleared from the board’s gift store in Wellington. This total comprised 1359 cases of gift parcels, each case containing about 10 parcels, 16 cases of malt, 13 cases of woollen goods and 106'cases of fruit cake. Besides this large quantity of goods the store has also dealt with further supplies. Some of the gift parcels received from outside centres have been packed in cases that have been too large. They must be in boxes the size of kerosene cases, and because some districts have sent their parcels to Wellington in large cases involving the repacking of the contents this has added to the work that has had to be done. Expert packers from various firms help to lighten this work from time to time. They give their services voluntarily and when they are on the job they certainly do make high piles of unpacked parcels disappear. Recently at night six packers from om, Wellington firm boxed and wired more than 900 parcels in an hour and a-quarter. They got them into 92 cases.

In addition to its big store, the board has storage space in the old Wellington Central Library building, and there the final touches are put to the packing of all the woollen goods, such as balaclavas, scarves, and mittens. To protect these articles from attack by insect pests they are put into tin-lined cases, and when the goods are packed the lining is sealed down right around the top before the wooden box is nailed up. These cases hold a considerable quantity of goods, anything from 24 to 27 dozen mittens, for instance. Providing for large numbers of men in the way the National Patriotic Fund Board and the provincial patriotic councils are doing is certainly a big job, involving not only a considerable amount of work but also much thought and organization. Without the assistance that has been given so readily throughout the country, notably by the women, it would be imnossible of achievement. The National Patriotic Fund Board is grateful for that help and knows that in its efforts to do the very best for the men of the services it can count on a continuance of that support.

SUICIDE AFTER DEATH OF FIANCEE

INQUEST CONDUCTED AT AUCKLAND (United Press Association) AUCKLAND, August 20. A letter intimating his intention of committing suicide because of the recent death of his fiancee was produced at an inquest before the Coroner (Mr F. K. Hunt) into the death of a young man whose body, with a bullet wound in the head, was found near the top of Mount Hobson on Monday night. The body was identified as that of Alban Arthur Custance, a labourer, single, aged 28. Victor Midgley said he shared a flat with Custance in Grafton. Custance was alone when the witness left the flat on Monday evening, and although he was in good health he had been very depressed since the death of his fiancee, Fay Alexander, on July 26. “He was no more depressed than usual since her death when I left the flat,” the witness continued. “He never stated his intention of committing suicide and I had no reason to believe that was his intention. As far as I know he did not possess a firearm. “When I returned home I found a letter from Custance signifying - his intention of committing suicide, and advising that his body would be found on the top of Mount Hobson.” The witness added that Custance was a Canadian and a graduate of St. John’s College, Winnipeg. “I believe'that his only living relation was a sister living in Canada.” The inquest was adjourned.