MOBILE CANTEENS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 180, 2 August 1941, Page 6

MOBILE CANTEENS

FIVE BEING BUILT IN N.Z. FUNDS SUBSCRIBED BY PATRIOTIC PEOPLE (Press Assn.) Wellington, Aug. 1. Five mobile canteens, which are being built at the works of the New Zealand Motor Bodies, Ltd., Petone, for service with the New Zealand Forces in the Middle East, are expected to be ready in another three weeks. These motorised canteens have been given through the National Patriotic Fund Board by the staff of Woolworths (N.Z.), Ltd., who have provided the funds for two, a section of the Masonic Order of New Zealand, the Federation of Shop Assistants, and native school children. The native school children’s canteen is for sen vice with the Maori Battalion. The bodies are being built on importd three-ton chassis, and when the job is completed another live very serviceable units will be available to cater for the welfare of the New Zealand Forces. A start with the work was made about three weeks ago, and this week Mr. G. A. Hayden, secretary of the board, and others, inspected the construction as far as it has progressed. “There is no doubt,” said Mr. Hayden, after the visit, “that the canteens would be a valuable aqji.net to the services already in operation in the Miadle East for the armed forces.”

In addition to the bodywork, two main water supply tanks, each of a capacity of 94 gallons, arc being built underneath the chassis. An extra 22gallon petrol tank is being fitted at the rear and there is also a smap water supply tank, which will hole nine gallons, A pump will enable water lo be pumped up from the two main water tanks to the smaller tank, ana a check valve is being fitted alongside the pump go that the containers can be filled without pumping the water up into the small tank. Inside, the bodies will be eqi.iippmi with sink, bench, cupboards and electric.lights. There will be two storage compartments over the top of the cab. One side of the body will be hinged, .so that the top part will provide a canopy and the bottom part a counter. Other equipment will be added in the Middle East.