MAILS TO TROOPS IN EGYPT

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23129, 19 September 1940, Page 8

MAILS TO TROOPS IN EGYPT

—t — INCREASED REGULARITY OF SERVICE (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, September 18. “Advices received by the Post Office continue to show increased regularity in the arrival of mails in Egypt for New Zealand forces in the East,” said the Postmaster-General (.the Hon. P. C. Webb) to-night. “At the end of last month a large quantity of mail matter, which had been dispatched from New Zealand in May, and which had been subjected to heavy delay, was received at the base post office in Egypt. This means, with certain exceptions, that all surface mails dispatched from the Dominion up to the end of June have reached their destination. The exceptions comprise 19 bags of letters, etc., and 98 bags of parcels dispatched early in May, which are believed to have been lost, and 200 bags of letters; etc., and 143 bags of parcels which were on board vessels that were diverted after departure from port. These diverted mails may have reached their destination since, the dispatch of the advice on which the foregoing statement is based. “Since the beginning of August surface mails from Egypt have reached the Dominion regularly, mails having been received on August 6, 20, and 27, and September 8. It is also pleasing to note that air mails, both to and from the forces in Egypt, have added appreciably to the frequency of exchanges. Not a week goes by without one or more air mails being received from or dispatched to the base post office in Egypt.” USE OF SCHOOLS AS HOSPITALS EDUCATION BOARD’S PROTEST (PE233 ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, September 18. Strong comment regarding the action of the military and health authorities in taking over school buildings for use as hospitals was made at a meeting of the Auckland Education Board to-day. The board decided to protest against the proposed taking over of the Auckland Teachers’ Training College and the Hamilton West primary school for use as hospitals. A protest was also registered at the inspection of the Training College by the Deputy Director-General of Health (Dr. R. A. Shore) and the local Medical Health Officer (Dr. Hughes) yesterday without first consulting the chairman or secretary of the board. “Schools are being bandied abqut from pillar to post simply because the military and health people have not done their job,” said Mr F. A. Snell, who represents Hamilton on the board. MOBILISATION OF REINFORCEMENTS TRANSPORT PLANS ANNOUNCED Arrangements for the transport of troops mobilised for the 4th Reinforcements of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force were announced yesterday. The draft for Papakura, which will • leave Lyttelton on October 2, will include approximately 110 men from Christchurch, 18 from Timaru, nine from Ashburton, 88 from Dunedin, 45 from Invercargill, 23 from Nelson, 29 from Greymouth, and three from Westport. In addition, a smaller draft of eight men from Marlborough will leave for Papakura from Picton on October 3. The draft which will proceed to Trentham on October 3 will comprise approximately 132 from Christchurch, 40 from Timaru, 17 from Ashburton, 144 from Dunedin, 83 from Invercargill, 41 from Nelson, 15 from Greymouth, 18 from Westport, and 10 from Marlborough. The draft for Burnham on October 3 includes approximately 477 men from Christchurch, 361 from Dunedin, 327 from Invercargill, 102 from Marlborough, and 95 from Nelson. This draft will be preceded on October 2 by drafts of 104 and 28 from Greymouth and Westport respectively. In addition, 561 men from the North Island will go into camp at Burnham on October 3. VISIT TO TRENTHAM CAMP (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, September 18. Newspaper proprietors, managers, and editors from many parts of New Zealand attending the half-yearly conference in Wellington of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association, to-day paid a visit of inspection to the army school of instruction, Trentham. They were accompanied by two members ot the War Cabinet, the Hon. F. Jones and the Hon. A. Hamilton.The commandant of the school, Major Sugden. and other officers escorted them and explained the activities of the school. At the close of the tour the visitors were addressed by Mr Jones. RECREATION FOR SOLDIERS CLUB ROOM PLAN REJECTED AT SUMNER A proposal by the Sumner Patriotic and Public Appeals Committee to provide recreation for men at the coastal batteries was rejected at a public meeting held in the Sumner. Town Hall on Tuesday evening. The scheme for the purchase of social and recreation rooms for men on coastal defence and those in the other fighting forces was outlined by • the Mayor (Mr J. E. Tait). The meeting, however, opposed the proposal to spend the sum of £I7OO on the purchase and furnishing of the Cadena tearooms. It was argued by speakeis that support from the forces might be very small, and there was a greater need to help the men overseas and provide funds for distress in Great Britain. ~ , „ , It was finally decided that a committee of residents be formed to cooperate with the Sumner Returned Soldiers' Association in the entertainment of men on coastal defence and other fighting forces, and that the Patriotic and Public Appeals Cominittee be asked to assist with a sum not exceeding £3OO. The motion was carried without opposition. The following committee was elected:—Messrs L. R. Cant, S. Hickmott, M. Phillips, J. Thompson. G. F. Allen, the Rev. W. R. Martin, Mesdames L. R. Cant, D, Dick, Summerton, Carver, and Goodall.