SOLDIERS’ CLUB IN CAIRO

Evening Star, Issue 23950, 30 July 1941, Page 5

SOLDIERS’ CLUB IN CAIRO

SO PER CENT. OF PREMISES OPEN TO ALL RANKS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 29. The great need that had been met by the decision of the National Patriotic Fund Board to establish a New Zealand Forces Club in Cairo was shown by the fact that the premises were used to capacity all the time, said Brigadier N. S. Falla, who attended the last meeting of the Standing Committee of the board presided over by the GovernorGeneral, Sir Cyril Newall. Brigadier Falla recently returned’ injured from the Middle East. The statement has been made that the greater part of the club is for the officers, and that only a small section is available for the men. This is flatly contradicted by Brigadier Falla and is not borne out by the plan, which shows that 80 per cent, of the club premises is available for the men, the remainder being divided between the officers, n.c.o.s and nurses. Brigadier Falla, in a review of the activities of the club, stated that the premises had sleeping accommodation for about 50 men, for whom there were a large dining room-lounge, bathing facilities, a writing room, a library, a reading room, a milk bar, a tobacco stall, and other amenities. Stocks of goods sent from New Zealand > were carried for sale to the troops at cost price. Separate dining rooms were provided for the officers and n.c.o.s. The Standing Committee discussed a number of matters in connection with the club with Brigadier Falla.