ACCOMMODATION FOR MEN OF FORCES

Camp News, Volume 3, Issue 115, 27 March 1942, Page 7

ACCOMMODATION FOR MEN OF FORCES

Expansion Planned S WELLINGTON PATRIOTIC COUNCIL "Though Wellington at present lacks a hostel that perhaps can provide sleeping accommodation under one roof for as many men as can be accommodated in this way /in Auckland and Christchurch, it is quite wrong to suggest that Wellington lags behind other centres in catering for the welfare of the men of our forces,” said Mr Ward, M.L.C., honorary secretary of the Wellington Provincial Patriotic Council, yesterday afternoon. Mr Ward gave details of some of the work being done for the servicemen in Wellington, including. from time to time visitors from .overseas, and added that steps were being taken to provide ad ditional facilities.

“It has been suggested,” said Mi Ward, "that the inference may be drawn by some people from a recem article in a weekly publication that Wellington is doing very little, for tin men in the forces in comparison with what is being done in other cities. It that impression should.nave been creat ed it should be removed at once it fairness to the many hundreds of pa tri otic workers in this city. The position in fact is that Wellington actually is doing at least as much for the men of the forces as any other place in the Dominion.

‘‘ln Wellington city alone," Mi Ward continued, “there are approximately 15 clubs and organizations catering for the men when they are on leave and also for visiting servicemen and merchant seamen. As an indica tion of what is being aone, the A.N.A. Club in Willis Street served approximately 10,000 meals last month, the Combined Services Hostel 2000 meals and the Y.M.C.A. about 1000 meals, excluding Sunday teas. In addition the Y.W.C.A. provides meals and enter tainment for another 500 men over tin weekends. The Salvation Army also provides hundreds of meals each week at its hut at the railway station. There are decided advantage® in having a number of clubs. For one .thing R gives greater opportunity to those de sirous of having a part in entertaining the -servicemen ; it also provides great er variety for the men themselves

"As for sleeping accommodation, the Combined Services Hostel provides 130 to 150 beds at the weekends, tin Y.M.C.A. 120 and arranges for 56 more, and Toe II up to 20. Moreover, the Salvation Army and a number of hotels and boarding-houses have special cheat rates for servicemeiT.

Besides the provision of meals and accommodation, another big service was represented by the arrangements made to provide the men with dancing and light refreshments.

Mr. Ward announced that steps were being taken to expand the hostel accommodation available in Welling ton. It was realized, he said, specially in view of the calling up of'more men for service, that additional sleeping accommodation was required, end ne godations were proceeding with a view to providing an additional 200 beds. Mr. Ward also referred to the recent establishment of the American-New Zealand friendship group for the entertainment of any visiting American forces. “All visiting servicemen from overseas are taken care of by the pat riotic organization, and that has been our policy from the beginning,” said Mr. Ward. “In undertaking this special service among American visitors the new organization will be working in close co-operation with us.”