SHE WORKS IN A CAMP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 150, 26 June 1940, Page 12

SHE WORKS IN A CAMP.

Seven Days a Week For the Soldiers.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLIXGTOX. The distinction of being the only member of her sex working in the Central District Mobilisation Camp, Trentham, belongs to Miss Jean Perrv, daughter of Brigadier Perry and Mrs. Brigadier Perry, who conduct the Salvation . Army social hut at the camp. Already Miss Perry, an attractive young woman still well under 21, is known to thousands who have passed through the camp; by the close of the war she should be known to a very large number of Xew Zealand soldiers. With her mother and father, Miss Perry does a full day's work at the camp, seven days a week, from 7 a.m., when tea is first served to the men who want it, till 11 p.m., when the last job of the day is to serve hot piee, tea and cakes to the camp guarde. Brigadier Perry is himself an old soldier, having served with the 3rd Battalion, Ist Brigade, Xew South Wales, in the last war. Brigadier Perry's eldest eon is in camp with the third echelon. Their other son ie still at school. The hut work occupies 72 hours a week.

Up to 2000 men a day visit the hut; most of them have the penny cup of tea with the penny cakes and threepenny pies. If they are without money, a notice tells them, "If you're not holding, don't go without; see the padre." Just before pay day in particular. Many men will avail themselves of this invitation. No note is taken of those who do so, but they all settle up. Some go so far as to keep a record of what they had. and there are not many whe do not add a little more as a donation to help the hut along. Many soldiers give their services helping witti the washing up, and even the sweeping anJ cleaning. After a hard day's drill this shows a good spirit. Writing to Mother. The soldiers have plenty to remind them of their duty to the folks at home. There are such notices as these prominently displayed: "Did you write home this week?" and "Soldier, did mother get your letter this week?" The men seem keen letter writers; .approximately 1500 sheets of notepaper are used in the hut each week. One evening a week there is a concert and the hall is full to its 800 capacity. On Sunday night there is a hymn service; it is'not denominational in 'any way, but the men have an hour or so community singing of well known hymns. A soldier with three years 10 months service in the Great War said: "The ■service from the Army is even better than in the last war and that's saying a lot; the money side does not matter, and that is what we appreciate." Mrs. Perry also manages to do a lot of sewing for the men between times; attaching the chevrons and distinguishing patches and other jobs that, no matter how efficient a soldier may be, he cannot do as neatly ae a woman. Other social huts in the camp art! doing similar line work. Whatever the minor discomforts of army life there is always a hospitable reception amid good surroundings for the soldiers in the various huts with their fires and heaters, lounge chairs, billiard tables, libraries, sanies, radio 'sets and other amenities. One thing the Salvation Army hut is in urgent need of at present "is a gooa supply of reading matter. I