TUNISIA AND AFTER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 20, 2 November 1943, Page 6

TUNISIA AND AFTER

WELFARE OF N.Z. TROOPS COMFORTS AND AMENITIES Reports recently to hand from Lieut. Col F. Waite .Commissioner for the National Patriotic Funcl Board in the Middle East, give details of the provision made in various way to cater for the welfare of the New Zealand. Forces during and after the Tunisian campaign. The picture shows put on during this campaign were a popular diversion,, the New Zealand mobile cinema units showing to English units as well as to the New Zealanders, a gesture which was. greatly appreciated. I!n three months 22 different programmes were put on, and 182 shows were given to total attendant ces estimated, at 114,591. Many times, particularly in the case of scattered units, the .screenings were to -small groups of from ten to 250 and 500. Before hostilities had actually ceased in Tunisia, the New Zealand cinema plants had arrived at Enfulaville and on one occasion the "talkies" were being shown in a valley while Milliant fireworks were going on overhead. When the Division left Tunisia the cinemas accompanied them all the way back to Cairo and it was possible to provide shows at the various stops en route. Special mention is made by Col. Waite of the continued popularity and value of the New Zealand For--ces Club in Cairo and of the service | being given by the hostel established in Alexandria. The hostel jfc. iSi charge of Mr K. Thornton, of the New Zealand Y.M.C.A.,, who is doing line work in keeping in touch with New Zealanders in the, Navy and Mercantile Marine personnel. Every month he arranges a re-union dinner for all New Zealand naval and Air Force personnel, and has a reserve supply of patriotic parcels so that he can service men who are making a.short stay. He. also sends out a monthly New Zealand Navy newsletter, which is newsy and is cohsidered bj r Col. Waite to be one of the best things done in the Middle East, to put New Zealanders in the Navy in touch with their friends Heavy Demands on Club After the return of the Division from Tunisia, the demands on the club in Cairo were heavy. In the restaurant alone, over 80,000 meals were served in a few weeks. According to a report sent, by Col. Waite the men benefited from the steps taken to protect them from undue profiteering. Shopping lists were prepared and most of the firms approached agreed to give special discounts to the New Zealanders. One firm stated that, owing to bookkeeping policy, it was unable to give discounts, but forwarded a cheque for £500,, which is to be used for welfare work. The wrapping of parcels in the club, the. provision of paper and string, censorship and posting facilities were other amenities available on the club premises. Many of the men availed themselves of the opportunity of buying silk stockings for sending home and also hot-water bags. Stockings to the value of £6300 (Egyptian) and £1500 worth of hot-water bags were sold. At a meeting of the general committee of the club, which was attended by two delegates from each unit, adjacent to Cairo, the view was expressed, that despite difficulties arising from the length of the supply lines, the Division had been well served during the campaign. In June payments from the patriotic funds held by Col. Waite; totalled £10,718 (Egyptian), of which £6845 was paid on account of the Y.M.C.A. as an expending agent. From October,, 1942, when the Eighth Army launched its victorious offensive in Egypt, to the end of May of this year goods brought up and supplied to the Division included 88,216 tins of fruit, 370 987 twoounco tins of tobacco, 9.431,000* cigarettes, 1,300 794 bars of chocolate, 245,166 packets of biscuits and 87.648 tins of milk. Canteen supplies distributed free to the Division through the Y.M.C.A. in the period from June 23 last year to the end of. May this year cost the patriotic funds over £16,000. This period covered the campaigning from Mersah Matruh to Enfidaville and back to Cairo. General Overhaul After the return of the Division from Tunisia the opportunity was taken of overhauling the welfare organisation and the vehicles used for the transport of comforts. Col. Waite stresses the importance of a stea.lj' supp'y of cigarettes and cigarette tobacco being available at the club. "One of the. services the men reaHy appreciate/' he says, "is a steady supply of New Zealand to-

baeco so that they can roll their own." When Col. Waite wrote a distribution of gift parcels and cigarettes had recently been completed. Each unit received one parcel and 50 cigarettes per man based on ration strengths. lit. was the best distribution that had been made because most of the units were nearer to the base than they had ever been previously.