TOBACCO GIFTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 10, 13 January 1941, Page 7

TOBACCO GIFTS

PARCELS FOR FORCES

CUSTOMS DUTY PAYMENT

POSITION STATED I Per Press Association. J WELLINGTON, Jan. 11. The secretary o'f the National Patriotic Fund Board (Mr. G. A. Hayden) stated to-day that, although publicity had been given to the position several times, some misapprehension apparently still existed regarding the sending of tobacco and cigarettes overseas to thq New' Zealand Fighting forces. The difficulty appeared to be due to the fact that the New Zealanders were not in the same war theatres and that different conditions applied to the payment of Customs duty as between the United Kingdom and Egypt. The position briefly was that tobacco or cigarettes included in individu-ally-addressed parcels for the men in the United Kingdom were not subject to duty, whereas in Egypt these goods were liable for duty. 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 Egypt, Mr. Hayden continued, 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. Selling of Cigarett'

Mr. Hayden also dealt with the question of why cigarettes and tobacco consigned to the recently-establish-ed New Zealand Forces’ Club in Cairo were not to be distributed free. This point was raised by a correspondent, "Mother of Son Serving Overseas,” in a letter to The Post. 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. “If a packet of 10 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 a too heavy 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 over a period, 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, anu 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

Provision of Extras “Special grants have also been made from the patriotic funds for the benefit of the men overseas and this mone; 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 to each mat., Each week for a period vegetables had been bought with the money so that the menu could be augmented. The fact, that extras of this kind are made possible front 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 that it was not pretended that there was not room for improvement in the service being given to the New Zealand lighting forces. It was known that there w'ere directions in which improvements could be made, but everything could not be done at once, and in the meantime there was the assurance that had been given by Major-General B. C. Freyberg, G.0.C., Second N.Z.E.F., that as a result of the general support given by the people of the Dominion to the patriotic campaign, there were no troops in the armies of the Empire so well supplied and looked after as the New Zealanders.