A GOOD START

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22620, 28 June 1943, Page 4

A GOOD START

Tonga Rest Centre Letters and official reports received from Captain N. J. Paltridge. who was one of the passengers on the flymgbcat 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 May 13. 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 to 80 or 100 as soon as possible. I started some of the chaps off on golf and tennis to-dav and they were thrilled as you can imagine. The table linen and ware is 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 Mav 22. 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 God-send. 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 also 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 this appointment on this island, all his reports and letters reflected his keenness to do a good iob for the troops. He had obviously made a splendid start.