NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22908, 3 January 1940, Page 12

NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION

BODY FORMED IN LONDON

HOSPITALITY FOR DOMINION TROOPS

MOU OXTB OWI CORRESPONDENT.) LONDON, November 28, The New Zealand War Services’ Association was formed at a meeting of some, 350 New Zealanders at the Royal Empire Society yesterday. Its purpose is to “promote the welfare” of New Zealand soldiers, sailors, airmen, and nurses serving with the Forces, to co-operate with the combined Empire societies to provide hospitality, and with the Young Men’s Christian Association in arranging for canteen facilities for the men. The High Commissioner, Mr W. J, Jordan, presided. A committee of 27 was set up, and a subscription fund,- with headquarters at New Zealand House, was opened. Funds from New Zealand will also be contributed. Lord Bledisloe was appointed president. of the association. Mr Jordan reported events leading to the meeting being called. Admiral A. Bromley (Ceremonial Reception Secretary at the Dominions Office) outlined the activities of a committee formed by the combined Empire Societies, and Mr C.- Bevin expressed the desire of the Young Men’s Christian Association to collaborate with the association in every way. - Mr Jordan said that at the outbreak of war, the New Zealand Women’s Association and the New Zealand Men’s Society had agreed to form one, large committee, and a provisional committee was formed to arrange for the .present meeting. Already members of the Women’s Association were preparing gifts for the unit of 150 New Zealand soldiers at present training in England. In. addition to leather.wallets and New Testaments, the , men had also been, supplied; with football kit, including black jerseys. “We cannot imagine a group of New Zealanders without a football team/’ Mr Jordan added;" /. - ■ v, “A Job to Do”

“There is a job to do to-day in London,” the High - Commissioner. continued; and he. referred to the. good work achieved by the 'New Zealand War Contingent Association in the -last war. ■ That: association had-provided among other' thipgsrthat all New land wounded should be visited ,in hosr pital- by a Dominion representative, a “service” which he himself had experienced. The association was so hospitable that a man in the bed'next to a New Zealander was always regarded as a-lucky fellow. „ 1 , , As in the last war. New , Zealanders were again - offering- their services;, in. Britain,! and’their'enthusiasm could* be contemplated*- iThe iprovii

sional committee had suggested that a body similar to that in the last war was desirable, and they suggested that it should be called the New Zealand War Services Association. A committee, formed under the auspices of the combined Empire societies, with. Field Marshal Lord Milne as chairman, to provide hospitality for men from the Dominions serving with the Forces, together with the Young Men’s Christian Association, with whom Mr Cyril Bevin (Onehunga) was associated, and both offered to co-operate with the association. The following motions were then approved by the meeting:—Cl) That an association be formed by. New-Zea-landers in Britain and that it be called the New Zealand War Services’ Association, and (2) the objects of the association shall be to promote the welfare of members of the New Zealand Naval, Military. Air, Nursing, and ancillary services, and of co-operating with other bodies engaged in promoting the welfare of the personnel of the New Zealand fighting and ancillary services. Officers Elected Officers of the association were elected as follows:—President, Lord Bledisloe; chairman, Mr W. J. Jordan; vice-chairman. Colonel B. ff. W. Lascelles; committee, Mesdames B, C. Freyberg, E. S. Harston, W. J. Jordan. Lihdo Levien, Hal Williams, and Walter Young, Misses M. Thurston mid y. Bussell, Messrs T. B. Chmg, C. Beym. C. A. Knowles. D. F. Reid, A. Sun, Maurice Smith, R. M. Sunley. Hal Williams/ C. J- Wray W. Young, J. C. Rolleston, Shayle Gardner, Dr. J. B. Comrie and Colonel B. Myersr treasurer, the financial secretary _to_ the High Commissioner, Mr R. M. Sunley; secretary. Miss Jean McKenzie (New Zealand House staff);, auditor, Mr R. J- Miller, auditor to the New Zealand Government in London. ; Mr Jordan said that some funds would be received from a National Council established in New Zealand, together with moneys raised in Britain by subscription. • Admiral A. Bromley said that the organisation formed by the Empire societies was intended solely for the benefit of and nurses from the Dominions, India, and_ the colonies. A committee under Lord Milne had already been working for five or six weeks, and they had made good progress. They were co-operating with the* associations formed by Canada and Australia, and they would, be very glad to work in with the New Zealand association. In that way : the committee hoped’ to be a clearing house” for the New Zealand body, and the names of any New Zealanders serving with the Forces received from the War Office, Air Ministry r and -Admiralty would be forwarded to the association. ,■. . , ■ , , : On December 20 a hostel would be opened in the central part oLLondon under the auspices of ,the -Victoria League for-the : Dominion and -Colonial troops; social, centres in ■ the - various "training - units' would ■■■ be " established. At'the headquarters of the Royal 'Empire Society. everything", would, be done to make the leave of ■Dominion troops happy. ; . i .. .■ YALCA. Contribution > Outlining /the* work tof sthe \Young Men's Christiam'AssociatioiV: Mr Bevin.'

said that more than 300 centres had been opened in Britain for the troops, and it was hoped that the association would shortly be given permission to start work in. France. A .very different proposition i faced them from that' in tne last war, for there was a large number of men in isolated units in lonely _ spots manning anti-aircraft guns or balloons. The association,'however, was catering for them with mobile canteens, of which over 30 were now on the road. They went round, visiting the units, supplying the • men' with books end other , various needs, giving them writing material, posting their letters, , and even seeing that they had needles and cotton. In ' time it was intended to have some 500 of these mobile units. on the outbreak of the war the association had offered to serve New Zealand troops in the same way as if had- in the last war, and that offer had been accepted straight away. As soon as it was known that the New. Zealand contingent was arrivr ing, - a canteen ; would be established wherever if-was r posted. It was hoped that the New '. Zealand association would help in providing canteen workers. • , . Mr H. A. Lawrence (New Zealand Associated Press) stated that no fewer, than 10 publishing houses had agreed to provide. New. Zealanders with 50 periodicals which’ would be forwarded to the High i Commissioner for. distribution among the New Zealand troops. Mr Jordan added-that Lord BledMoe had offered to place- his country estate, Lydney Park,'af the disposal'of the New Zealand Government as a hospital or nursing home, and that Sir Harry Twyford, formerly Lord Mayor of -Lon‘offered^his 1 house at [Wimbledon.