PACIFIC KIWI CLUB

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21385, 21 April 1944, Page 5

PACIFIC KIWI CLUB

NEW HEADQUARTERS NEW CALEDONIA BASE (N.Z.E.F. Official News Service.) NEW CALEDONIA, April 18. Ideally situated on the foreshore of Bourail Beach and overlooking the wide sweep of New Caledonia’s most attractive bay, a new building has come into being—the headquarters of the Kiwi. Club. Its purpose is to cater as far as possible to provide for men some of those amenities enjoyed by on-leave soldiers in other theatres of war. Because of difficulties surrounding the manufacture of prefabricated parts for huts and .the shortage of shipping space, it .was decided to erect the Bourail Club as a native-type building. With a donation of £SOOO for the purpose of building and erecting a club-house for New Zealanders serving in the Pacific, the Anzac division of the British War Relief Society in New York has materially assisted in making the venture possible. Furnishings of all kinds had been, collected in New Zealand by the National Patriotic Fund Board. The club will cater for thousands of New Zealanders on leave an'd, when completed, it is anticipated that it will provide accommodation for parties of 200 to 300 sdldiers of all ranks at a time. Dining-room Space for 150 Prefabricated huts have been provided by the army and these have been admirably placed in the cool shade ot trees and native fern. In the club-house there is a dining-room designed to seat 150 at a single sitting. A large hall, with an excellent dancing floor, has been provided, together with full stage facilities for concerts and suitable areas for indoor games of all kinds. In the final completion of the scheme facilities will be available for screening moving picture programmes, either indoors or outdoors. Tennis courts are under construction in an open space at the rear of the club-house and boat sheds have been erected to house four yachts of the popular Frostbite class provided by the National Patriotic Fund Board. To add to the safety of bathing in the rolling surf which is one of the glories of BoUrail beach, arrangements have' been completed for various surf-clubs associated with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Pacific to be in daily, attendance. The staff of the club comprise the personnel of the Kiwi Company, N Z.W.A.A.C., over 40 of whom assist in providing for the comfort of servicemen. These girls are under the supervision and direction of SeniorCommander G. V. M. McClure, of Christchurch, and Junior Subaltern D. M. Paltridge, of Wellington. The club will be supported entirely by the Patriotic Board and will be under the management of Lieutenant H. B. Lubransky of Wellington who, in addition to the W.A.A.C. personnel, will have under his control a staff of male assistants. The Official Opening "This club sees the completion of the programme envisaged by MajorGeneral H. E. Barrowclough when the force came to New Caledonia in 1942,” said Brigadier W. W. Dove, Auckland, at the official opening last night of the Kiwi Club. Brigadier Dove paid a tribute to the work of the W.A.A.C’s and intiriiated that additional W.A.A.C.’s would be brought to New Caledonia. Mr Ernest Brooking, who, with the Hon. Vincent Ward, M.L.C., represented the New Zealand National Patriotic Board, said that the public, of the Dominion had responded handsomely to provide money for the board's activities. The club was something new, inasmuch as it was going to provide a day or two’s rest from the' camp environment and away from the trying climate of the tropics in which the New Zealanders had fought. Referring to the W.A.A.C.’s, Mr Brooking said: “We will send over another ‘division’ and I hope ther.e will be enough to go round when you have a little party here.” Mr Ward said that the Third New Zealand Division had played its part in the World War. “If the division had not been here the Japanese would have taken this island, which is only 1000 miles from the Dominion and New Zealand would not be in the position of safety it enjoys to-day,” he continued. “This is fully appreciated by the people of New Zealand, who realise the importance of New Zealand and Allied troops being in the Pacific.” Following the official opening, a first-class entertainment was provided by the Kiwi Concert Party (Pacific).