COMFORTS FOR N.Z. FORCES OVERSEAS

Camp News, Volume 2, Issue 92, 3 October 1941, Page 6

COMFORTS FOR N.Z. FORCES OVERSEAS

Patriotic Fund Provision

LARGE VOLUME OF GOODS SENT

Since the National Patriotic Fund Board began sending comforts overseas for the New Zealand Forces the volume of goods necessary to meet requirements has reached large proportions. Some idea of these at the present time is to be gained from' one consignment for the Middle East.

In this there were 5743 cases of com forts, a total of 326 tons cubic measurement, and valued at £33,856. By far the greater part of the goods comprised gift parcels which were provided by the- 11 provincial councils and the zone committees of the councils. There were 4352 cases of these parcels.

Other comforts included 256 cases, or nearly 7 £SOOO worth, of tobacco and cigarettes for free distribution; 385 cases of woollen goods, and £625 worth of cigarettes, tobacco and confectionery for the stocking of mobile canteens.

A request received by the board for more radio sets was met by the provision of 50 set's, together with 50 crates of batteries. Also in the consignment were 37 cases of band instruments, to replace instruments lost by the 4th and sth Brigade Bands in Crete.

Another important service is the pro-

A further reference to alleged sales of gift cigarettes in the New Zealand Forces Club, Cairo, is made by Lieu-tenant-Colonel F. Waite, overseas commissioner for the National Patriotic vision of comforts on the transports for use- by the men during the voyage The, goods put on board these ships include large quantities of writing ma terials, indoor games equipment, sports gear, song books, sheet music, cigarettes and tobacco, chocolate, books and periodicals and talking picture films When nurses are travelling special com forts are packed for them and the board also sees to it that the crews of the escort vessels are not overlooked.

From time to time special comforts are also sent for the Maori Battalion For instance, in one shipment, there were 70 cases containing approximately 2000 tinned mutton birds, and-75 cases of other assorted delicacies.

Ice-cream Equipment.

Before long the National Patriotic Fund Board expects to take delivery of the ice-cream manufacturing plan' which is being constructed at General Motors works at Petone to provide an other amenity for the New Zealand Forces in the Middle East. Besides the manufacturing plant, the equip meat includes a specially-built refrig erated truck to enable the ice cream to be transported to the hospitals and the forward areas. The truck has al ready been completed. It has been built for heavy duty and it incorporates some interesting 'features that have been designed to make it a reliable and serviceable unit under the difficult conditions in which it is to operate.

Fund Board, in his latest report. “Wi have investigated some alleged sales,”

“The board and all patriotic workers in New Zealand,” he adds, “must

* Be? pardon, dr, but what about the overtime?” Answers, London