MOBILE CANTEENS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20639, 20 August 1941, Page 7

MOBILE CANTEENS

FIVE FOR N.Z. TROOPS PRESENTATION CEREMONY MAORI SCHOOLCHILDREN (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Five mobile canteens destined for service with the New Zealand forces in the Middle East were formally handed over to the Governor-General, Sir Cyril Newall, as chairman of the national patriotic fund, yesterday afternoon. The canteens, painted in two shades of green and each weighing three and a half tons, attracted considerable interest. Two canteens were given by the staff of Woolworths (N.Z.) Limited, and one each by the New Zealand Federation of Shop Assistants, native school children 'and by the supreme council of the 33rd Degree, Ancient and Accepted Rite of the London Branch of the Masonic Order. They are equipped with two water tanks of 94 gallons each. A pump enables water to be pumped up from these to a nine-gallon tank above a 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 the 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 bo added in the Middle East. Inspired by Lord Galway Speaking on behalf of the Masonic branch, Mr. W. J. Girling, of Marlborough, said the canteen had been inspired to some extent by Lord Galway, a member of the supreme council of the 33rd Degree, Ancient and Accepted Rite, during his term as Governor-General. He thanked the Hon. W. Nash, as Minister of Customs, for remitting all customs duty on every part of the canteens that had to be imported. Mr. F. H. Giles, who represented the staff of Woolworths (N.Z.), Ltd., said the staff first expressed the desire to present an ambulance. In three months the sum of £935 was raised, but it was then found impracticable to purchase an ambulance. Two canteens then became the objective. This required additional money, but before long the necessary £I3OO was in hand. The loyalty of members of the New Zealand Federation of Shop Assistants to His Excellency as the King’s representative and the desire to back Up the work being done by their fellow members on active service was expressed by Mr. P. L. Yelvin, the president of the federation. Maori Battalion The native school children’s canteen, which is for the Maori Battalion, was handed over by the 1 Minister of Education, who said that the proposal to make the gift came from the schools themselves. On the canteen, in English and Maori, was the inscription: “Presented to the Maori Battalion as a token of love from the the native schools of New Zealand. ■ In 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, he 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. Mr. Nash thanked His Excellency and all who had made the canteens 'possible. Referring specially to the canteen from the native school children, he 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.