H.—22a

given preference over comforts. Generous assistance was given by the Army and Air Force, and by our American Allies, and during the period under review large quantities of comforts were shipped from New Zealand to destinations in the Pacific. (/) United Kingdom One of the most difficult parts of the world to service for comforts for New Zealand personnel has the United Kingdom. This is due to the fact that practically all New-Zealanders in the United Kingdom, apart from the Forestry Unit, are attached to British units, in the main the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy. The High Commissioner for New Zealand in Great Britain, Mr. W. J. Jordan, has acted as the Board's main representative. He has been ably assisted by the New Zealand War Services' Association. A club has been established, known as the New Zealand Forces Club. Comforts have been forwarded direct from New Zealand to the New Zealand War Services' Association, which has individually addressed parcels to New Zealand personnel. Reunions have been held at the club from time to time, and a special party was arranged for the Christmas season, at which time also all New Zealand Service personnel in Great Britain received a special parcel of 200 cigarettes, 1 lb. cigarette tobacco, and 8 packets of cigarette papers, in addition to the gift parcel usually forwarded. The people of New Zealand owe a debt of gratitude to civilians in Great Britain, mainly all ex-New-Zealanders, who have carried out this work on behalf of our troops stationed in the United Kingdom. (g) Canada The same difficulty in regard to the type of comforts for New Zealand personnel serving in Canada referred to in last year's annual report, obtained during the year under review. Consequently the Board continued to send gift parcels, cigarettes, and other comforts to the Anzac Club at Halifax, so that all drafts departing to Great Britain could be supplied on the voyage. In addition, New' Zealand periodicals and daily newspapers were forwarded for distribution throughout the stations in Canada. The Anzac Club at Halifax continued to function, and is one of the most popular clubs that the Board has established. This is due, to a very large extent, to the efforts of a committee of Canadians in Halifax, who so ably assisted the Manager of the club.

VII. Woollen Goods The following table shows the cumulative number of woollen garments made up and issued to the 30th September, 1943 :—

VIII. Unaddressed Gift Parcels The unaddressed gift parcels scheme, which was designed to ensure that every New-Zealander serving overseas received four parcels a year, has been carried on during the year. With two Divisions operating, one in the Middle East and the other in the Pacific, and with personnel scattered throughout the world, the task of distributing these parcels has not been an easy one. The exigencies of war have, unfortunately, at times precluded the issue as regularly as was designed, and some personnel did not receive their parcels. It can be stated, however, that, as far as was practicable, every New-Zealander overseas received four gift parcels during the year, in addition to a quarterly issue of free cigarettes. Approximately 320,000 parcels were despatched from New Zealand, as compared with 247,000 last year. IX. Membership of Board During the year the Board suffered a very great loss in the passing of one of its members, the Right Hon. J. G. Coates, who had, since the outbreak of the war, been a capable and energetic member of the Board, and had given of his best for the patriotic effort generally throughout New Zealand. X. Appreciation The Board desires to place on record the magnificent work carried out by the local Patriotic Committees throughout New Zealand, and its thanks to the women of New Zealand for their unselfish assistance. Too often the patriotic work in the Dominion is associated with either the National Patriotic Fund Board or the Provincial Patriotic Councils. This, of course, is not so—the patriotic work is carried out only through the donations received from the population as a whole, and by the many hundreds of Committees scattered throughout the Dominion—these are the basis of the organization. It would be invidious to single out persons for individual thanks—so many thousands have assisted. They ask for no thanks, being content with a job well done. The Board feels, however, that it should record its appreciation of the assistance rendered by the Local Patriotic Committees, the Patriotic Councils, the expending agents already mentioned, its Commissioners overseas, the Board's staff throughout a difficult and trying year, the Government of New Zealand for financial assistance, the press, the staffs of the Broadcasting Services and of the Post and Telegraph Department and, finally, to the generous public who subscribed the funds. For and on behalf of the National Patriotic Fund Board. G. A. Hayden, Secretary-Treasurer.

5

— —■ §K s® — ss. sa '!=• Army .. .. 82,534 817 66,083 2,095 80,918 .. 53,103 1,279 Air Force Relations .. 31,803 5,380 35,435 47,559 41,745 .. 9,659 Navy Office .. 9,905 2,732 4,609 5,095 6,889 2,612 5,244 473 293 Navy League issues .. 19,822 2,116 12,884 13,252 16,717 5,986 20,566 4,159 Consigned overseas .. 91,819 1,364 88,966 8,487 93,636 1,016 33,664 8,487 Totals .. 235,883 12,409 207,977 66,488 239,905 9,614 122,236 14,398 293 Stocks on handArmy .. .. 49,516 21 43,311 305 38,969 .. 5,185 1,711 Air Force .. 824 15 1,370 1,323 3,035 31 45 51 Navy .. .. 2,606 589 1,363 343 2,458 66 673 i Grand total .. 288,829 13,034 254,021 68,459 284,367 9,711 128,139 16,164 293 Hussifs: Army, 113,276 ; Navy, 5,236; Air, 19,817. Weight of wool issued to servicewomen in lieu of garments : Navy, 156 lb.; Air Force, 426£ lb.; Khaki, 3,841 lb.