“A GOOD START”

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 28 June 1943, Page 5

“A GOOD START”

TONGA REST CENTRE Letters and official reports received from Captain N. J. Paltridge, who was one of the passengers on the flyingboat lost on a sea flight, recently, show that he wasted no time in getting to work after his arrival at Tonga to represent the National Patriotic Fund Board. One of his most important responsibilities was the running of a recreation centre and rest camp on the island for the benefit of the troops, and in his letters there are a number "of references to this undertaking. Writing on 13th May, Captain Paltridge stated: “The recreation centre is going to be a great thing to keep men in the best of health. The place at present is not nearly ready, but 30 men are being sent in each Monday and Thursday for a three-days’ rest. I want to get this number up fo 80 to 100 as soon as possible. I started some of the chaps off on golf and tennis today and they were thrilled as you can imagine. The table linen and ware are good; the men sleep between sheets and you can imagine the effect this has on them The main hall, which is very large, will be turned into a very fine recreation room next week. I am more than pleased that I saw all the equipment for this centre on the boat before I left.” In another letter, dated 22nd May, Captain Paltridge stated that the 30 men who had been at the rest centre for three days’ leave from the previous Thursday had had glorious weather. A large number of the men were tennis players; they had been on the courts practically the whole time and had thoroughly enjoyed themselves “From next week,” the letter added, “we will be able to take 60 each three days so that will help to get them leave more often. This recreation centre is a Godsend. It does your heart good to see them after a couple of days here; they are like new men. The golf links are just over the road and they are al®o very popular. The W.A.A.C.’s come over to the recreation centre hall in the evening and play cards and games with the fellows. This also helps to brighten their stay here.” Mr G. A. Hayden, secretary of the National Patriotic Fund Board, said that, although Captain Paltridge had only recently taken up his appointment on this island, all his reports and letters reflected one desire, and that was his great keenness to do a good job for the troops. He had obviously made a i splendid start.