Gifts for Britain

Appeal Launched in Fiji

A SPECIAL gift appeal for needy Brit ain has been launched in Fiji by Lady Grantham, wife of the Gov ernor of the Colony.

Goods sent will be those of which Fiji has plenty—that is, canned pineapple and soap.

In making her appeal, Lady Grantham said: “As it seemed desirable to send only Fijian products the first task was to find what, if anything, could be made avail able for export.

“Sugar, which, of course, is in short ration, would be acceptable, but I found that all the sugar for export is already allocated to the countries in need of it.

“For some time I have been sending, as many of you have, food parcels to friends and relatives in Great Britain.

In my parcels were sugar, lard or butter and always a tin of Fiji pineapple.

“In the letters of grateful thanks I have received in return, delight is expressed for the sugar and butter, but it is the pineapple that has been the highlight and has brought the greatest expressions of appreciation.

“Pineapple in Britain is an unadulter ated luxury—something that is a real treat and something they have not had for six years. Besides this, it is a valu able addition to the diet, and. best of all, it is the one article of food that Fiji can supply in fairly large quantities, and on which there are no controls or restric tions.

“On realising this I made inquiries and found that considerable amounts will be available soon, which, if you will all help, can be sent as a gift from the people of Fiji to the people of Great Britain, to be distributed free of cost or coupons.

“Another commodity in short supply in Britain is soap, and on appealing to our local soap company a generous response has put a large quantity of both toilet and laundry soap at our immediate dis posal, with more in prospect.” mo work for the appeal, a central com- JL mittee with representatives of the Fijian, Indian, Chinese and Euro pean commmunities has been set up in Suva. Lady Grantham is president. Mrs.

Derrick is secretary, and Mr. L. C. Bently Is treasurer It is expected that outlying districts will set up their own local committees to raise funds.

The Women’s Voluntary Services in England has been asked to undertake the task of distribution.

The first shipment of 50 tons of goods is expected to be made from Fiji in July or August.

Donations to the fund will be received in Fiji by the Bank of New South Wales, Bank of New Zealand and by the “Fiji Times.”

As soon as the fund was opened on June 25, £225 was subscribed in Suva.

Mr. and Mrs. N. Luke, who have been living in Perth since the evacuation of New Britain in 1942, were in Sydney on leave in June. Mr. Luke is on the AwA staff and formerly served on some of Burns Philp ships as wireless operator.

Both he and his wife (who was then Mrs.

Boles) had a lucky escape from the Japs In 1942 when they got away in the small ship “Leander.”

Captain A. S. Fitch, managing director of Steamship Trading Co. Ltd., who has spent several months in Australia, re turned to Port Moresby by the July “Mon toro.”