H—22a
The special spheres ..of operations of other expending agents have been dealt with in previous reports. Club facilities in cities and towns were provided by the Provincial Patriotic Councils, assisted by a large number of local organizations and voluntary workers. Sunday cinema entertainments were provided with the co-operation of the motionpicture industry. Buffet services in cities, which were considerable, were staffed mainly by volunteer labour. The Board again, wishes to express its appreciation of the continued assistance of voluntary workers, who rendered willing service to the patriotic organization and expending agents in providing comforts and entertainment for servicemen and servicewomen in various parts of the Dominion. A summary of the activities of the major expending agents is as follows : Catholic War Services Fund Board Of the seven recreation huts operated by this organization at the beginning of the year, two remained open at 30th September, 1945. Buffet receipts amounted to £3,688, and expenditure, to £2,827. Advances totalling £5,000 were made by the Board. Church of England Military Affairs Committee This Committee operated four recreation huts and seven Air Force chapels in New Zealand, two huts in Italy, one hut at Base Camp, Maadi, and three marquees and one hut at Norfolk Island. The capital value of huts and chapels in New Zealand operated at the end of the year was £11,722, and furniture £3,270. Buffet expenditure was £5,201, receipts £5,275. Advances made, by the Board to the Committee were £B,OOO. Salvation Army War Purposes Board This Board operated eight recreation huts and buffets in New Zealand during the year. The value of huts and equipment was £12,384, and furniture £1,149. The gross buffet takings were £5,603, and expenditure £6,328. The Board advanced £3,000 during the year. Y.M.C.A. The Y.M.C.A. operated approximately fifty-nine huts or canteens in New Zealand during the year, and thirty-nine at the close. In addition, leave centres and recreation clubs or huts and mobile canteens and cinemas were operated overseas by the Y.M.C.A. on behalf of the Board. These, included the Lowry Hut and Central Hut at Maadi, the Hostel at Alexandria, Lowry Hut at Bari, and clubs or hostels at Madonna Di Campiglio, Forli, Riccione, Florence, Venice, and Trieste, and in the Pacific at Fiji, Guadalcanal, and the New Hebrides. In addition to these, this organization operated in the United Kingdom on behalf of the Board in regard to the repatriated prisoners of war.. Details of this are given under the heading " Repatriated Prisoners of War." The canteen sales of the Y.M.C.A. in New Zealand for the year were £113,487, . and the net surplus under this heading was £6,431. Joint Council of the Order of St. John and New Zealand Red Cross Society This organization commenced the year with a balance of £6,991, and received from the Board during the year £198,106. Sundry receipts were £37,166, and a balance of £3,202 was held at the end of the year. Principal items of expenditure' were— : ' '' £ Sick and wounded .. ... .. .. 27,131 • Prisoners of war .. .. .. 172,422 Convalescent homes .. .. .. •• 19,304 Capital expenditure .. .. .. •• 14,129
21