N.Z. FORCES CLUB IN LONDON CLOSED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 285, 3 December 1945, Page 4

N.Z. FORCES CLUB IN LONDON CLOSED

INSIGHT TO WELFARE WORK HOME PATRIOTIC FENDS HELPED Recd. 10 p.m. London. Dec. 1 The New Zealand Forces Club, in Charing Cross Road, London, has closed after being a meeting place for thousands of servicemen during the past five years.* Declared open by Mrs. Churchill on August 9. 1940, its last night was celebrated by a dance at which Lieuten-ant-General Sir Bernard Frey berg paid a tribute to its work and warmlypraised the voluntary workers, whom hep resented with gilts as mementoes. Genera] Freyberg recalled being present at the opening of “this remarkable club.” He said it originally was intended that the New Zealand Division was to concentrate and train in Egypt and fight in Fiance, when its base would have been at Colchester. “One of my first jobs was to consider the question of welfare.’’ he said. “Although we spent most, of our time in the Middle Ea.t I can assure the voluntary workers here that we in the Division have the greatest gratitude for all you have done for our fighting men when they have been home in lhe Old Country.” There had been three great groups of welfare workers—in London, Cairo, and Italy. “In Egypt we started a big canteen and made considerable money out of selling goods to our own New Zealanders (laughter),” said the General. “We thus have been able to carry on our welfare work; shipping good from New Zealand instead of hard cash. The whole of lhe Patriotic Fund money came across in the goods which we bought. Our profits in ♦ Egypt were well over £lOO,OOO. II would have been considerably- more but for the fact we considered our main object was not to make money' but distribute it, and we spent it on thal great group of clubs in Italy. We also spent £30,000 from our canteen club to help cater for returned prisoners, and for the leave scheme. We look back with great pride to the fact that the welfare work, stalled in this London club, has been second to none. It has heen as good as anything in I his war.” He added that it was only one pait of the work, for 91.000 cases of hospitality' had also been arranged for New Zealanders in Britain. The thing that touched them mowt in the Division was the fact that the British, during the time they were rationed most closely, had taken in New Zealanders, and fed them and looked after them. Mr. E. F. F. W. Lascelles, chairman of the committee, read messages from Mr. Jordan. New Zealand High Commissioner in the United Kingdom, also from Mr. S. R. Skinner, who was at. Southhampton farewelling members of the R.N.Z.N.V.R., and added his praise of the voluntary workers. Formerly an Italian Fascist Club, the premises will now presumably be taken over by the custodian of enemy property, and if no Government department claims them within three months they will be auctioned.