Club of Their Own in Cairo

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 5, 7 January 1941, Page 4

Club of Their Own in Cairo

N.Z.E.F. Now Have Commodious Building GENERAL FREYBERG’S THANKS Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Jan. 6. The New Zealand forces in the Middle East now have a club of their own in Cairo. As in the case of the club that has been established in London, this has been made possible by the people of the Dominion since the rental is being paid out of the National Patriotic f und, from which also a liberal grant has been made lor furnishings. By a coincidence, too, the premises in Cairo were formerly occupied by the Italian Fascist Club just as were the quarters in London which have been converted into the New Zealand Forces Club. The National Patriotic Fund Board has recognised for some time the desirability of establishing a social centre for tne New Zealand forces in the Middle East, but because of the uncertainty about the duration of their stay in that part of the world negotiations for suitable premises necessarily were delayed somewhat. The Board left the matter to its Overseas Commissioner, Lieut.-Colonel Waite, and General Frey* berg to decide upon finally. Advice has now been received by tne Board that the former Fascist Club has been taken over at a rental of £95 a month with the right of terminating the lease at any time with three months’ notice, and with satisfactory arrangements included for interior alterations. The building is ventilated, centrally-heated and air-conditioned and well lit, and is described as being in an excellent situation.

The plans provide for the furnishing of as large a number of rooms as possible as bedrooms so as to make available cheap lodging for men on leave from outlying parts. The object of the club is to have a rendezvous where New Zealanders can be provided with good clean cheap refreshments, good beds, baths, showers, etc., and where they can see copies of their own newspapers in their own reading rooms.

Writing to the National Patriotic Fund Board, General Frcyoerg stated that the opening of the club noout the New Year was eagerly awaited by everybody, particularly in view of the crowding which was being experienced in other establishments because of the ever-increasing number of troops arriving in the country. General Fre-yoerg pays special tribute to the part the people of New Zealand have played in making the olub possible. This mag nificeut social centre, which will be ol the greatest value to the force, he says, is only possible because ot tile generosity of the citizens of New Zealand who have contributed to the Fund. That generosity will be g «lly appreciated by ail rauks of . the N.Z.E.Je.

After pointing out that the eluu Will enable nurses, officers and N.C.U. ’s to be catered for in the same building, General Frey berg continues: “May 1 say one further word of tnanks to ail donors in New Zealand. Tho Patriotic Fund parcels are proving a great success. Every time luey arrive it is a red letter day and we all talk about what we get in the surprise packet from New Zealand. Will you piease tell your committee that 1 am able to say with absolute sincerity that there are no troops in the armies of the Empire so well supplied uud looked after, thanks entirely to the generosity of the people of New Zealand.’’ In order that the New Zealand forces may be able to obtain the cigarettes and tobacco which they havo been accustomed to smoking in this country and which reports snow they prefer the National Patriotic Fund Board has sent a big consignment to the club for sale there.