R.N.Z.A.F. COMFORTS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 115, 10 February 1944, Page 6

R.N.Z.A.F. COMFORTS

Welfare Services In

' Pacific Area The expansion of the Royal New Zealand Air Force in the Pacific area, where the New Zealanders are taking, an increasing part in operations against the Japanese, has called for greater provision by the patriotic organization ot welfare services and supplier of comforts and amenities for these, personnel. Steps taken to meet this development were referred to yesterday afternoon by the secretary of the National Patriotic Fund Board, Mr. G. A. Hayden, who said that direct contact had been established with the R.N.Z.A.F. units by the appointment of a representative of the board specially to look after their. -interests. This representative, said Mr. Hayden, was attached to the. R.N.Z.A.F. headquarters in the Pacific, and had been sent there after haying had the benefit of experience of welfare work carried out for the board with N.Z.E.F. units elsewhere in the Pacific. Previously the RjN.Z.A.F. personnel were dealt with direct from New Zealand .as units and were supplied with comforts through the board’s store in Wellington. Now the R.N.Z.A.F. in the Pacific was treated as ia separate entity and was on a similar basis to the N.Z.E.F. in regard to supplies, which were being sent forward in accordance with requisitions from the board’s representative with the Air Force squadrons. In addition to the appointment of a special representative, said Mr. Hayden, buffets run for the board by. the Y.JI.C.A. had been established, picture plants were being provided, and a forward store was being established. From this • store, the board’s representative would be able to draw supplies to provide for the air personnel in the forward areas. To give some idea of the provision being made, Mr. Hayden said that the special representative, with the R.N.Z.A.F. had ordered from the board recently 13.5001 b. of block cake. 10,000 tons of biscuits, 13,5001 b. of- shortbread, large supplies of tea, sugar, cordials and stationery; also canvas folding chairs and wooden folding chairs for the buffets, cane armchairs for the recreation huts, billiard tables, pianos, musical instruments for concert parties and dance bands, and large supplies of cups and saucers, glasses, and cutlery for the buffets. Other items being provided for these men included hair clippers, irons, radio sets, indoor games, sports gear, hand trawling nets, and fishing lines. They also participated in the distribution of gift parcels sent quarterly, and received free toffees in lieu of cigarettes, the men being able to obtain American cigarettes, which they preferred. As a further means of assisting to eater for the air personnel when the}’ were off duty, two Frostbite yachts had been sent through the kind offices of Auckland yachting circles, and before that the board had supplied a yacht equipped with outboard motor. “From these items for the air personnel alone a better appreciation is to be gained of the extent of the calls on the patriotic funds,” added Mr. Hayden. “When to this is added the provision that has to be made for our soldiers and other, personnel in the Pacific and our forces in Italy, and sailors, soldiers and airmen serving elsewhere, as well as for prisoners of war and sick and wounded, without taking into account the funds required for patriotic activities within the Domiinon, the total cost runs into more than’ £560,000 a year.”