WAR EFFORT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 177, 30 July 1941, Page 8

WAR EFFORT

NEW ZEALAND LEADS SALVATION ARMY OPINION. The belief that New Zealand has surpassed Australia in the war effort was expressed by Lieutenant Commissioner J. Evan Smith, the Dominion commander of the Salvation Army, who returned from a conference in Australia by the Matson liner on Sunday. The Commissioner, who was accompanied by Mrs. Smith, went to Australia for the purpose of holding a conference with the Australian commissioners. At the conference was Lieutenant Commissioner E. J. Harewood, an old New Zealand officer, and Lieutenant Commissioner T. Dalziell. The results of the conference may not be seen immediately, but several matters in connection with war work were gone into.

Commissioner Smith saw much of the war services rendered by the Salvation Army in Australia. The authorities had taken full advantage of the Army's experience. Thirty-five chaplains and welfare officers had gone overseas with the Australian Forces, and in addition 70 were working in various huts throughout the Commonwealth. He regretted that New Zealand still denied the troops overseas the services of the New Zealand Salvation Army, except under the direction of another organisation. During the visit he met a number of old New Zealand retired officers who have settled down over there, among them being Commissioner and Mrs. J. Hay and Commissioner and Mrs. Mackenzie. Commissioner MacKenzie was the renowned "Fighting Mac” of the last war.