SOCIAL WELFARE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20184, 29 February 1940, Page 12

SOCIAL WELFARE

TROOPS OVERSEAS SERVICES APPEAL WORK IN EGYPT The fighting services welfare appeal, which is being launched by the Y.M.C.A. and Salvation Army with the object of raising £IOO,OOO to provide for the recreation and comfort of the men in the forces, has received timely endorsement from Major-General B. C. Freyberg, commander-in-chief of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Y.M.C.A. officers and a representative of the Salvation Army accompanied the First Echelon abroad and had instructions to secure suitable buildings and proceed at once with their services to the men. The Cairo representative of the English Y.M.C.A. undertook to facilitate the work of his New Zealand colleagues, and Adjutant Bicknell, of the Salvation Army, carried full authority to establish and conduct a centre for the social welfare of the New Zealanders. When the troops left New Zealand their destination was a close secret. Therefore it was considered possible, that they might find themselves camped in some place where there were no resources for establishing the huts. The foresight of the National Patriotic Fund Board enabled supplies of recreational equipment to be carried on the troopships, together with marquees, crockery, tinned fruits, milk, cocoa, biscuits and light refreshments. A sum of £3OOO was at the disposal of the Salvation Army and Y.M.C.A. officers oil the spot to enable a prompt start to be made, with their valuable work for the. troops.