SECOND N.Z.E.F. CLUB

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 172, 23 July 1942, Page 6

SECOND N.Z.E.F. CLUB

APPEAL MADE FOR FUNDS

The Auckland Metropolitan Patriotic Committee decided last evening r ? f€ £ to the National Patriotic Funds Board, with favourable recommendation for joint action, an appeal by the 2nd N.Z.E.F. Association for £1000 to assist in furnishing club rooms. A deputation from the association stated that the club rooms have been secured and that it is intended to open them shortly. It was stated that the cost of making the premises ready for occupation had been between £700 and £800. The association's membership was about 300 returned men. Next-of-kin would be eligible for membership until the soldier returned, when the relative would vacate his membership. No other club was available for returned men out of uniform, rhe association had worked in collaboration with the Returned Services Association as closely as it had been allowed, but, with the exception of five branches of the older body, that collaboration had not been accepted.

Opinion in the committee in regard to the appeal was divided. Some members urged that the new organisation should link up with the K.b A., while others did not agree with the suggestion regarding next-of-kin being allowed to join the new club.

The motion that the appeal should be referred favourably to the National Patriotic Funds Board for joint action was passed on the motion of the chairman, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, who said that sums were being found for the comfort and entertainment of men who had never been overseas.

■' Hellabv, in seconding it, said that time should be taken to investigate the deputation's claims.