WELFARE OF FORCES

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23756, 30 September 1942, Page 2

WELFARE OF FORCES

UNION JACK CLUB’S WORK TRIBUTE BY SERVICE OFFICERS

Tributes to the magnificent work done by the Union Jack Club in looking after soldiers, sailors, and airmen on leave in Christchurch were paid by Army, Navy, and Air Force officers last evening when the club celebrated its second anniversary by entertaining its voluntary helpers and those who have contributed materially to its success. The function was held at the Winter Garden, and was largely attended. Among the speakers were the Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews), Archbishop West-Watson, Commander A. D. Boyle, Colonel R. C. Wickens, and Squadron Leader A. C. McArthur. The Mayor congratulated the club on behalf of the city of Christchurch, and said that no city in New Zealand was so well catered for with the Union Jack Club and other organisations to look after men of the forces.

The president of the club (Dr. J. Leslie Will) reviewed the early history of the club, and mentioned that more than 1,000,000 servicemen had passed through it in the last two years. He said that the club had provided the men with a home where they could live in circumstances a little above the rough and tumble of camp life. The work the club had done and was doing was outstanding, and with Other organisations it had done its share in helping to keep the city a clean city. Also it had helped overseas visitors passing through the city, and he did not think that any other institution could possibly have catered for them in such a way.

Archbishop West-Watson said he was proud to join with the Mayor in congratulating the president and the committee, and all the club’s voluntary workers on having made the club such a success for the troops. It was a credit to Christchurch, and the Mayor must feel proud that it had done so much for the city. Colonel Wickens thanked the club on behalf of the Army in the Southern Military District. He said that the care arid welfare of the troops was a big responsibility. A large number of troops had passed through Christchurch in the last three years. While they were in camp the Army could handle them fairly well, but when they were on leave the Army lost touch with them as long as they behaved themselves. The Union Jack Club had done a wonderful job in looking after the men. "A lot of people are inclined to think that a soldier in uniform is a rather vicious sort of chap, and that when he comes into town he heads straight for the hotels.” said Colonel Wickens. “He is not like that a bit. Your sons and brothers are in camp, and they are a good, honest, and sober crowd of boys.” Commander Boyle expressed the appreciation of the men of the Royal Navy, the Royal New Zealand Navy, the Merchant Navy, and the Allied merchant navies for the hospitality they had received from the Union Jack Club. He said that the naval people in Lyttelton had seen a considerable number of ships of the Allies’ merchant navies—Norwegians, Danes. Russians, and Greeks. All these different services had accepted the hospitality of the club, which they much appreciated. Squadron Leader McArthur thanked the club for the way it had looked after the men of the Air Force in Christchurch. He said that men from Royal New Zealand Air Force stations had used the club and thought a great

deal of it. Men travelling from the North Island were always able to get a meal or a bed there. The Union Jack Club had become the home of servicemen in Christchurch. During the evening items were given by the Orpheus Choir, conducted by Mr F. C. Penfold, and Messrs A. Dey and F. Thompson,