N.Z. TROOPS

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 52, 30 August 1945, Page 5

N.Z. TROOPS

VISITS TO DOLOMITES

A SPLENDID HOSTEL

One of the attractions for New Zealand troops in the north of Italy has been- the Madonna, di' Campiglio, a hostel in the Dolomite Mountains, where they, have been able to spend six days' leave. Mr. G. A. Hayden, secretary of the National Patriotic Fund Board, who is overseas on board business, visited this hostel when he was in Italy. "It is the finest leave hostel I have ever seen," he stated in a recent report. The hostel, said Mr. Hayden, might be compared to the Hermitage at Mount Cook, except that it was on a much larger scale. There was a private bathroom attached to every bedroom, civilian staff waited on the troops, and morning and afternoon tea and supper were provided. Officers were charged 35s for the complete week and other ranks 255, including the cost of accommodation at an overnight stop at a small alpine village, on the return journey. Trucks were provided to take the troops most of the way to the skiing grounds, where there was a hut, staffed by civilians. The place was surrounded by forests and the meadows were full of wildflowers. Comments in the visitors' book showed the appreciation of. all who had visited the hostel.

To give some idea of the scale of the Madonna di Campiglio and the facilities the New Zealanders have enjoyed, Mr. Hayden mentioned that an English division and a corps, after an officer had made an inspection with a view to the hostel being taken over when the New Zealanders moved out, came to the conclusion that it was too big a proposition for them to undertake.

Mr. Hayden also visited the Riccione Hostel, which was established as a rest centre for personnel from • the New Zealand Division when they were in action 10 or 12 miles away; Venice, where he found that the Division had taken over the Hotel Danieli, which, he said, was possibly the finest hotel in that city; and he went to Trieste, where he had discussions with the New Zealand G.0.C., Lieutenant-Gene-ral Sir Bernard Freyberg. In Trieste the New Zealand Y.M.CA. had set up free welfare centres. One was a cafe in the centre of the city where refreshments were supplied. There was also a large open-air dance floor, which accommodated approximately 300 couples. Another dance hall accommodated 150 couples.