DIFFICULT TASK

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 39, 11 January 1944, Page 3

DIFFICULT TASK

COMFORTS FOR TROOPS

PACIFIC COMBAT ZONE

The task of establishing a worthwhile welfare se.rvicc for the NewZealand troops when they first moved into the combat zone in the Pacific was fraught will a numbci of difficulties. This is clear from a long and interesting report received by the National Patriotic Fund Board from its Pacific commissioner, Major G. W. O. Brain. A number of circumstances combined, to make it a severe test for Major Brain and

those associated with him, but they stuck to the job and, in spite of the obstacles that confronted them, the report .shows that they succeeded in their task, even though, things did not quite pan out the May they had been planned.

The initial setback was the discovery that goods which had been packed in New Zealand and at the New Zcalanders' base in the Pacific would be late in arriving owing to

[Ie shipping position ruling at that

time. This: was naturally disappointing to Major Brain, but he says in his report that the problem confronting the. Board'and the reason for it could possibly be appreciated more readily by those in the Pacific tlnui those at home.j Brain had been able to send forward some, supplies with the, troops,

but lie was able, to buy fairly substantial. quantities of goods from the American stores and also from the. New Zealand Army canteen. Shipping space, amounting to 20 tons, had to be obtained, and eventu-

ally, after much hard work in which many willing volunteers assisted, the supplies were ready for transport to the forward area at Veil a Lav-el la. After arrival at the Island, they had still to be. transported to the troops in the front line. The final stage of the long journey led out through a small native village into dense jungle through which the sun never penetrates. Major Brain says that the first supplies, to reach the front line, troops may have appeared unimportant to them, but to him tlicy appeared ol' the greatest significance— many obstacles had had to be overcome, the spearhead of a supply line from tlie -forward base had been established, and he had been able to gain a complete knowledge of the conditions existing along that line and the more urgent needs! of the men. On lijs return to th*i. forward base, further supplies were purchased, and the. process was repeated of parcelling them up, caring for them, obtaining shipping space and finally getting them shipped. Besides the men at Ve.lla Lavella, provision had also to be made for New Zealanders on Treasury Island and elsewhere. A return prepared by Ma'jor Brain shows that despite the many difficulties in the early stages., in a period of approximately six weeks, the Patriotic Board made free issues to the men in the. fighting zone of confectionery ; tinned fruit and fish, etc., toilet articles, stationery, cigarettes. tobacco, boxes of matches and playing cards, amounting in the aggregate to 1,403,0H:i items. The expenditure was approximately £4,000.