BEST OF FOOD

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21409, 1 May 1941, Page 6

BEST OF FOOD

TROOPS IN EGYPT NEW ZEALANDERS ENVIED VEGETABLES PLENTIFUL “When it comes to the provision of food, the way the New Zealanders in Egypt are treated makes them the envy of all other troops,” said Lieu-tenant-Colonel C. J. Pierce, M.C., E.D., Officer Commanding the Divisional Cavalry, who has returned to New Zealand on sick leave and who is convalescing at Hamilton East. Lieutenant-Colonel Pierce, who was formerly a well-known farmer in the Ohaupo district, left New Zealand with the First Echelon. Today he paid tribute to the work of the patriotic committees in New Zealand for what they were doing in providing food and comforts for the men overseas, and said that their activities were greatly appreciated by the men on active service. “The food our men are getting is excellent, and Major-General Freyberg sees to it that they are fed well and get the best quality it is possible to provide,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Pierce. “This time there is no suggestion that the men are living on ‘bully beef’ and biscuits. Of course, when they are actually in the field such rations may have to be served up to them, but as a rule those periods are of only short duration. Plentiful and Cheap “Egypt is a land where vegetables are plentiful and cheap, and our troops get a great supply of them. To give an indication, we have our regimental funds for the provision of any extras we may need, but I never once had the chance or the occasion of fully expending the money I had in hand. At the base camps the New Zealanders even have butter from their homeland served to them, and it is greatly appreciated. “Major-General Freyberg looks on every meal for every man as a social event and is absolutely insistent that the men should be given the best possible conditions under which to eat and the best possible food that can be secured,” said LieutenantColonel Pierce. “In this direction he even made me obtain glass pepper and salt shakers for the men’s tables. It is always his direction that the men shall not w. it for anything in the way of food if it can be provided. Of course, they are not fancy meals; but they are clean, wholesome and of excellent quality.”

SOLDIER’S' EXPERKNCES PRAISE FOR BRITISH PEOPLE GIFTS OF CLOTHING NEEDED “I cannot praise the courage and fighting spirit of the British civilian population enough," said Private A. J. D. Mitchell, a Hamilton soldier who has been invalided home after service with the Second Echelon, During the expected invasion months in England the New Zealand troops carried out extensive training manoeuvres on the latest methods of warfare, he said. Almost every civilian was a member of some organisation and the keenness displayed when going through their duties proved the indomitable spirit of the British people to sacrifice heavily in order to defeat aggression. Of the Dominion troops, the New Zealanders appeared to be the most favoured, the fact that they had volunteered and travelled such a long journey to assist them, touching the hearts of the people. Letters And Parcels Nothing served better to keep up the morale of the New Zealand soldiers than to receive letters and parcels from their relatives and friends in their home country. Private Mitchell said he had received letters from persons whom he knew only very slightly, but these gave him great pleasure. Articles which the men were always pleased to receive were soap, tooth brushes and pastes (especially artificial denture pastes), cakes and tobacco. Cakes must be sealed in air-tight tins and tobacco should be taped. Newspapers and pictorials were particularly welcome. Appeal For Clothes When Private Mitchell left England the population there was greatly in need of more clothing. Since many persons had escaped from bombed buildings with only the clothes they were wearing, the reason for the shortage would be understood. New Zealanders would be making a splendid gesture if they forwarded old clothing (children’s especially) to the various patriotic organisations for despatch to England. , ~ Private Mitchell spoke of the necessity of all defence organisations in New Zealand and was of the opinion that al! persons should belong to some such organisation.