GOLF FOR SOLDIER PATIENTS

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23625, 30 April 1942, Page 6

GOLF FOR SOLDIER PATIENTS

SUPPORT FOR HANMER SPRINGS CLUB DISCUSSION BY PATRIOTIC COUNCIL To pay for soldier patients’ use of the Hanmer Springs Golf Club’s course, the secretary of the club (Mr E. M. Parsons) requested the Canterbury Provincial Patriotic Council to make a donation to the club’s funds; a letter setting out the reasons for the request was received at a meeting of the council yesterday. ' .. , “Large numbers of soldier patients from whom we derive no income are playing on the links,” stated the letter. “As very few of these lads have played before, they make a considerable amount of wear and tear on the course, and extra work for the greenkeeper. It is therefore imperative, as our revenue from green fees and subscriptions has dropped by 50 per cent., to restrict the playing area unless we have some financial assistance.” “It is recognised that the game is a form of recreational therapy and rather than see the men deprived of it I would see this Patriotic Council pay something towards it,” said Mr H. S. Feast. “A member suggested that the question should be discussed with the joint council of the Order of St. John and the Red Cross. “We might have to wait for months,’ another member said. “We had two very seriously wounded soldiers who requested a radio. The Red Cross authorities sent the request on to Wellington and then began to wait for the reply. In the meantime, fortunately, we received a radio from another source. The authorities here were very sympathetic to the request, but by the time it had been submitted to the right places the time of need had gone by.” Miss E. Couzins: Perhaps it would have been simpler to refer it direct to Geneva.

Mr E. Gray: There is one way to deal with it. One Red Cross organisation wanted to take a certain action so it took the action. Then it communicated with Wellington and explained what had been done, pointing out that if there was any objection the local executive would simply resign en bloc. The reply was quickly received: “Action approved." A decision was made unanimously to consult with the joint council of the Order of St, John and the Red Cross and to arrange for some assistance to be given to the club.