MOBILE PICTURE SHOW

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 161, 29 September 1941, Page 3

MOBILE PICTURE SHOW

TALKIES FOR THE TROOPS

(N.Z.E.F. Official News Service)

Inspired by the success of a Canadian chaplain who used a mobile ■cinematograph plaut in Britain, the Senior Chaplain to the New Zealand Forces, with the assistance of a

number -of well-wishers in New Zealand, has a mobile, cinematograph unit in the Middle East. A small library of 1(> mm. talking films produced by the Religious Film So-cietj' of London is employed, together Avith other secular matter supplied by the New Zealand Government Film Studio. The first section deals with incidents from scripture and history and the second with interesting scenic views from New Zealand. The programmes have proved very popular with the troops and already over 50 screenings have been given in such diverse locations as barns, lofts, schools, church halls, hospitals, marquees, recreation tents <md even the' open desert. The talking picture projector, orig. inally employed at the New Zealand Centennial Exhibition, was procur- [ cd for the Senior Chaplain by Mr Ray Matthews, of Wairongomai. Featherston, while New Zealand well wishers, including Messrs A. B. Williams (East Coast), J. D. and F. Onnond and Herrick' (Ilcrbertvillc) contributed valuable film spools. The consignment of film from the Religions Film Society, London, experienced several vicissitudes before it finally readied its destination, while a motor generator and additional films purchased in England by Lt.-Colonel F. 'Waitc. Overseas Commissioner Tor the National Patriotic Funds Board, was very nearly sent to Greece by mistake during the evacuation. The task of handling the fiewt d3 rnamo posed a problem, but experts of a New Zealand mechanical unit constructed a trailer to carry the set, utilising in the process a collcction of bits and pieces gleaned from the British salvage authorities.