WELFARE OF TROOPS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21155, 3 July 1940, Page 8

WELFARE OF TROOPS

Y.M.C.A. ACTIVITIES TEA VAN COMMISSIONED (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received July 3, 3.15 p.m.) (From the omclal Correspondent Attached to the New Zealand Forces in Britain.) LONDON, July 2 With the commissioning yesterday of the motor tea van presented by the New Zealand War Services’ Association and the opening tomorrow of the London headquarters at 22, Charing Cross Road, a stone’s throw from Trafalgar Square, the shore activities of the New Zealand Y.M.C.A with the Second Echelon will be in full stride. The camps are being served by eight large reading, writing and recreation marquees, and five smaller chapel tents. There is no canteen service, this being provided by the Wet and Dry Navy Army and Air Force Institute. The mobile tea van will prove a great boon pn route marches and manoeuvres, which it will accompany, providing hot tea free. Eight hundred troops are served at each half hour’s halt and repeated at the next halt. The First Run On the first run of a motored reconnaissance column, the van travelled 193 miles and served tea five times in the course of a long day. The London headquarters are staffed by New Zealand women resident in England, and include facilities for reading, writing, games, information and accommodation bureaux, shower baths, baggage and storage. Nearby is Gatti’s Restaurant cow run by the British Y.M.C.A.. It is proposed to establish a cafeteria and also central rooms in the chief town in the training area. At the convenience of the New Zealand troops on evening leave, electric irons are available in the camp marquees and also a free sockdarning service, the gift of local women helpers. The padres of all denominations and the Church Army are co-oper-ating in all the arrangements. In one camp where there is no Y.M.C.A. tent, the Church Army is supplying equivalent services. The field secretaries with the forces are Messrs G. F. Briggs (Wellington), J. Kennedy (Christchurch), I. Mclvor (Auckland) whom the military are assisting with necessary staff. Family’s Practical Interest Owing to' the future of the New Zealand Division being uncertain, Mr and Mrs Lowry’s gift of £IO,OOO for a base Y.M.C.A. has not been expended, in the meantime the Lowry family’s practical interest in the welfare of the troops is well illustivited when following the presentation of the tea van, Mrs A. P. F. Chapman drove it to the London camp and said she would like to continue driving it on the job.