N.Z. 'SERVICEMEN

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 99, 28 April 1945, Page 9

N.Z. 'SERVICEMEN

CLUB IN MELBOURNE

Club rooms being established in premises at the corner of Market Street and Flinders Lane, Melbourne, for the entertainment of visiting New Zealand service personnel will carry further the fine work that has been done all along by Australians and New Zealanders in the Commonwealth for New Zealand servicemen passing through Australian ports.

The establishment of club rooms in Melbourne, similar to those in Sydney, was a matter discussed by Mr. G. A. Hayden, secretary of the National Patriotic Fund Board, when he visited Australia towards the end of last-year. The rental of the premises will be shared by the board and the New Zealand Association, Melbourne. Alterations to the premises are being carried out. Further' assistance will be given by the Patriotic Board by supplying indoor games, crockery, cutlery, and writing materials. .

Mr. Hayden said today that under the scheme for the replacement of longservice personnel of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. who/may return via Australian ports added importance attached to facilities being provided for them. The Australian and New Zealand organisations in the Commonwealth had been most generous in the hospitality they had extended and grants had been made'for entertainment of the men by the Patriotic Board from time to time. It was now necessary to do more. The New Zealand Supply Liaison Officer, Melbourne, Mr. J. A. Malcolm, acts as -a representative of the board, and steps taken by him recently indicate the provision that is made for returning Nev/ Zealanders. A draft of Army men arrived and were not allowed ashore. Arrangements were made, however, for 10,000 National Patriotic Fund Board cigarettes to be sent to their ship, also fruit and biscuits. When a party of 12 airmen arrived they had a weekend ashore, and on the Sunday they were taken for a picnic drive of about 80 miles.