HELPING HAND

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 33, 7 August 1943, Page 9

HELPING HAND

W*UFARE.-.SERVISESIi

TRO.OPSrIN,,MIDDLE, EAST

; The;, extent to which those respon- ; sible for the welfare, of. the New. Zea- . lands troops in, the .Middle .East, are.act- . ing in this direction is shown by some - items in a report from sthe, National '. Patriotic, Fund. Boardr. Commissioner, . Lieutenant-Colonel F."Waite. They are '. of .special,>interest sto New.- Zealand . women and...girls, .particularly those , who have received siik! stockings from i members of the Second N.Z.E.F. , Colonel Waite mentions that in order to protect the troops from excessive prices in Cairo, arrangements ! were made to sell silk stockings in 1 the New Zealand Forces Club at cost; price (about 50 piastres). In three days , over £1000 worth was sold, and Colonel Waite, writing on June 6, ' stated that he would not be surprised [ if in the next few days £3000 worth 1 was sold. . ;' SOUND ADVICE. Colonel Waite used the "N.Z.E.F. Times" to advise the men on their return from the battle areas to exer- : cisc some discrimination in how they ; spent the substantial credits in their : pay-books, and to beware of the proi iiteer and bad liquor. He also suggested to them that, after using some of their credit on entertainment and the purchase of gifts to send home, a worthwhile investment, instead of giving their money to war profiteers, was '. to'buy some New Zealand War Bonds. It has already been announced in New Zealand that during the Third Liberty Loan campaign there were investors from among the New Zealand forces overseas. Another service was the compilation of a list of articles in demand in New Zealand, together with the names of reputable firms which had guranteed to give New Zealanders a fair deal, and in some instances a 'discount. A card of introduction to these firms was issued from the New Zealand Forces Club. In addition to providing a good selection of stockings, the club had available a limited stock of hot-water bags for purchase as gifts to send home. "The club is working under great pressure in the supply of meals and amenities." states Colonel Waite's report. "Considering what the boys have gone through, their behaviour is very good, and it is pleasing to see them spending so much money on the folks at home. It is at times like these that the real value of the New Zealand Club is apparent. The work of the W.A.A.C. (welfare) girls is beyond all praise, especially in times of pressure like these."