FIVE MOBILE CANTEENS

Evening Star, Issue 23968, 20 August 1941, Page 10

FIVE MOBILE CANTEENS

GIFTS FOR MIDDLE EAST FORGES THE HANDING-OVER CEREMONY (P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 19. Five mobile canteens destined fur service with the New Zealand forces in the -Middle East were formally handed over to the Governor-General, Sjr Cyril Newall, as chairman of the National Patriotic Fund, this afternoon. The canteens, which are painted in two shades of green, and each of which weighs throe and a-half tons, attracted considerable interest.

Two of the canteens were given by the stalf of Woohvorths (N.Z.) Ltd,, and one each by the New /calami Federation of Shop Assistants, the Native school children, and the Supreme Council of the Thirty-third Degree, Ancient and Accepted Hite, London Branch of the Masonic Order. They are equipped with two water tanks of 91 gallons each. A pump enables the water to bo pumped up from these to a nine-gallon tank above the sink in the interior of the canteen. Other features include a 22-gallon reserve petrol tank, cupboards, and a roomy storage compartment above the driver’s cab. One side of tbo body is hinged so that when the vehicle is "stationary the top half may be used as a canopy 'and the bottom half as a counter. Other equipment is to be added in the Middle East.

Speaking on behalf of the Masonic Branch. Mr W. J. Girling '(Marlborough) said the presentation of the canteen had been inspired to some extent by Viscount Galway, a member of the Supremo Council of the Thirtythird Degree. A. and A. Rite, during his term as Governor-General.' Mr Girling thanked Mr Nash ns Minister of Customs for remitting all the Customs duty .on every part of the canteens that had to he imported. Mr F. H. Giles, who represented the staff of Woohvorths (N.Z.) Ltd., said the staff first expressed a desire to present an ambulance, and in throe months £935 was raised, but it was then found impracticable to purchase an ambulance. Two canteens became the objective. This required additional money, but before long the necessary £1,300 was in band. The loyalty of the members of the New Zealand Federation of Shop Assistants to his Excellency as the King’s representative and their desire to back up the work .being done by their fellow members on active service were expressed by Mr P. L. Velvin, president of the federation. NATIVE CHILDREN’S GIFT. Tiic Native school children’s canteen, which is for the Maori Battalion, was handed over by the Minister of Education, Hon. H. G. 11. Mason, who said that the proposal to make the gift came from the schools themselves. On the canteen was the inscription, in English and Maori, “ Presented to the Maori Battalion as a token of love from the children of the Native schools of New Zealand.” Expressing appreciation of the gifts, his Excellency added a special word of thanks to the Native children. There was nothing like a children’s gift for touching the heart, ho said. These gifts catered for the inner comforts of the men. Sometimes in war fighting men received lots of mittens, scarves, and pullovers, and sometimes the most difficult place to comfort was the inner man. Air Nash thanked his Excellency and all who had made the gifts of the canteens possible, referring specially to the canteen from the Native school children. Ho said he agreed that the little bit out of the ordinary routine that the canteens would provide would bring a shout of joy from the New Zealand soldiers when they were in trouble or were just coming out of trouble.