GIFTS FOR SOLDIERS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 62, Issue 4378, 15 January 1941, Page 5

GIFTS FOR SOLDIERS

DUTY ON TOBACCO AND CIGARETTES. BENEFITS SUPPLIED BY PATRIOTIC BOARD. Misapprehension still appears to exist regarding the sending of tobacco and cigarettes overseas, despite publicity already given to the subject, according to a letter to the Courier from the secretary of the National Patriotic Fund Board, Mr Hayden. He emphasised that no English duty was payable on such gifts sent to Britain, though duty was payable in Egypt. Tobacco goods included in parcels for members of the New Zealand forces in Canada were also admitted duty free up to certain limits. Because of the position in EgypL Mr Hayden said, arrangements were made, in accordance with a concession granted by the Egyptian Government, for the inclusion of cigarettes and tobacco in unaddressed parcels forwarded through the Board. M)r Hayden also dealt with the question of why cigarettes and tobacco consigned from New Zealand by the Board to the recently-estab-lished New Zealand Forces Club in Cairo were not to be distributed free. Mr Hayden said that as an abstract idea the issuing of cigarettes free, probably would seem to be easily managed, but from a practical point of view where thousands of men were concerned it was an entirely different proposition. HIGH COST INVOLVED. “ If a packet of ten duty-free cigarettes—that is, cigarettes costing much less than they do to retail in New Zealand was distributed by the Board daily to each man overseas, it would cost £375 a day,” continued Mr Hayden. “ The cost for a year- on this basis would be £136,875, and this, for one item alone, would be too heavy a burden for the fund to maintain. Apart from the financial aspect, other considerations apply. There are always some men who do not smoke. If the smokers were provided with a free issue of cigarettes or tobacco something would also have to be given to the non-smokers. Free distributions of cigarettes purchased from patriotic funds are made from time to time; the troops in hospital are supplied regularly, and arrangements are being made to provide cigarettes or tobacco to the men coming out of the line. In addition the weekly Army rations include an issue of cigarettes or tobacco. “ Special grants have also been made from the patriotic funds for the benefit of the men overseas, and this money is put to useful purpose. A report that came under my notice this week from a Y.M.C.A. officer in the Middle East, for example, refers to a patriotic grant that had been made to his unit in respect of each man. Each week for a period vegetables had been bought with the money so that the menu could be augmented.

MEN NOT AWARE OF BENEFIT.

“ The fact that extras of this kind are made possible from; the patriotic funds does not appear to be generally appreciated, as is to be gained from the following extract from the Y.M.C.A. officer’s report; ‘ This purchase was mentioned in routine orders, but only a small percentage reads them, and this gesture is not known to a great majority of the men. The idea of buying the fresh vegetables was an excellent one, but there is no way of letting the men know of their source. Other similar positions exist.’ ” Mr Hayden said it was not pretended that there was not room for any improvement in the service being given to the New Zealand fighting forces. It was known that there were directions in which improvements could be made, but evervthing could not be done at once, and in the meantime there was the assurance that had been given bv Major-General B. C. Freyberg, G.0.C.. Second N.Z.E.F., that as a result of the generous support given bv the people of the Dominion to the patriotic campaign there were no troops in the armies of the Empire as well supplied and looked after as the New Zealanders.