MOBILE CANTEENS HANDED OVER

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23412, 20 August 1941, Page 6

MOBILE CANTEENS HANDED OVER

Gifts To Soldiers In Middle East

(P.A.) , WELLINGTON, August 19. Five mobile canteens destined for service with the New Zealand' Forces •in the-Middle East were formally handed over to the Gover-nor-General (Sir Cyril Newall) as chairman of the National Patriotic Fund Board this afternoon. The canteens, painted in two shades of green, each weighing three and a half tons, attracted considerable interest.

Two of the canteens were given by the staff of Woolworths (N.Z.), Ltd;, one each by the New Zealand Federation of Shop Assistants, native school children, and by the Supreme Council of the' Thirty-third Degrde, Ancient and Accepted Rite, London branch of the Masonic Order. They are equipped with two water tanks of 94 gallons each. A pump Enables the j water to be pumped up from these to a nine-gallon tank above the sink in the interior of the canteen. Other features include 9 22-gallon reserve petrol tank, cupboards, and 0 a , roomy storage, compartment above the driver’s cab. One side of the body is hinged, so that when the vehicle is stationary the top half may be used as a canopy and the bottom half as a counter. Other equipment is -to be added in the Middle East.

Speaking on behalf of the Masonic branch, Mr W, J. Girling (Marlborough) said the canteen had been inspired to some extent by Lord Galway, a member of the Supreme Council of the , Order, during his term as GovernorGeneral. He thanked the Hon. W, Nash, as Minister for remitting all customs duty on every part of the canteens that had to be imported. Mr F. H. Giles represented the, staff of Woolworths (N.Z.), Ltd. The staff first expressed a desire to present an ambulance. In three months £935 was raised; but it was then found impracticable to purchase an ambulance. Two canteens became the objective. This required additional money, but before long the'necessary £I3OO was in hand. The loyalty of members of the New Zealand Federation of Shop Assistants to his Excellency as the King’s representative and the desire to back up the work being done by their fellowmembers on active service was , expressed by Mr P. L. Velvin, president of the federation. The native school children’s canteen, which is for the Maori Battalion, was handed over by the Minister for Education (the Hon. H. G. R. Mason), who said’ that the proposal to make the gift came from the schools themselves. On the canteen, in-English and Maori, is the inscription: “Presented to the Maori Battalion, as a token of love from the children of the native schools of New Zealand.”

Expressing appreciation of the-gifts, his Excellency added a special word of thanks to the native children, . There Was nothing like children’s gifts for touching the heartf he said. These gifts catered for the inner comforts of the men. Sometimes in war fighting men received lots of; mittens, scarves, and pullovers, and sometimes the mo?t difficult place to comfort waß thg inner man. The Actin|*Primj Minister (the Hon. W. Hash) thanked hi#Excellencyans all who had made the canteens possible, referring specially to /the canteen froth native school children. He said he agreed that the little bit out of the ordinary routine that the canteens would provide would bring a shout of joy from New Zealand soldiers when they were in trouble or were just coming out of trouble. • .