SOLDIERS’ PARCELS

Southland Times, Issue 24332, 13 January 1941, Page 6

SOLDIERS’ PARCELS

DUTY ON TOBACCO AND . CIGARETTES (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 11. I Mr G. A. Haydon, secretary of the National Patriotic Fund Board, says a misapprehension still exists about the sending of tobacco and cigarettes to the New Zealand Fighting Forces abroad. The difficulty appears to be due to New Zealanders not being in the same war theatres and different conditions apply to the payment of Customs duty as between the United Kingdom and Egypt. Tobacco and cigarettes included in in- I dividual parcels to Great Britain are not subject to duty, but parcels to Egypt | are. Tobacco goods included in parcels to Canada are admitted duty free up to certain limits. In consequence of the position in Egypt, said Mr Haydon, ar- i rangements were made in accordance ; I with the concession granted by the Egyptian Government for the inclusion of cigarettes and tobacco in unaddressed parcels forwarded through the board. Mr Haydon also dealt with the question why cigarettes and tobacco consigned from New Zealand by the board to the New Zealand Forces Club in Cairo are not to be distributed free. For i one thing the cost is too heavy for the fund to maintain and also many men did not smoke and something would have to be given them.