REST AREAS NEEDED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 52, 25 February 1944, Page 5

REST AREAS NEEDED

CONVALESCENT AMERICANS

LOCAL ENQUIRY RECEIVED

The following letter has been received by Mrs J. E. Winstonc, Secretary of. the Whakatane Red Cross Centre 'from Miss L. A. Kelly, Secretary of the American Red Crosv (Auckland area): —

"More and more New Zealand is becoming a rest area for American servicemen down from combat duty in the islands . Sometimes the groups come in large numbers. This creates a severe accommodation problem in and around Auckland where they usually land. For this reason and because when the men arc on leave they are eager to get away from large groups of uniformed, people, the commanding officers of. the groups are encouraging them to take part of their leave in sections some, distance from this area. One of the services of the American Red Cross' in New Zealand is. to help the boys find accommodation in hotels or private homes. We operate an oft'ice for that purpose in Auckland, Rotorua and Wliangarei. Now the problem has reached such proportions; that we are unable to carry on this; servicc without the aid of some New Zealand organisation and \yc naturally I thought of the Red Cross first.

In Kaikohe Mrs Bassett, who is connected Avith the Northern District Red. Cross, has obtained accommodation for as many as 7.1 boys on ranches. This has been a tremendous help. We conversed with Mr Marker of the Auckland Red Cross and he was. very co-operative, assuring us- they would lie. glad to do anything they could. He .showed this by giving us the names of the Honarary Secretaries of the various districts, so we arc taking this opportunity of, in turn, requesting help from you. Would it be possible for you yourself or someone, appointed by you to keep a list of hotels or private families who would be willing to take a service man or two from time to time ? If so you could let us know how many could be accommodated and how often. Wo could then wire you wlicn men were coming down. These servicemen rarely have over ten days leave and usually only from three to seven days. They would be only too glad to pay for their accommodation in private, homes as well as, in hotels. We have worked out a plan" with the Ration Board whereby we are able to give emergency ration tickets for tea, sugar and butter to the. family where a boy might be staying.

Would it also be possible for you or someone appointed by you to tell, ns some of the points of 'interest in your vicinity and list things the men could do there such as tennis, golf, hunting, fishing, swimming, yachting, horseback riding, dancing etc. We hope you will understand the spirit in which we ask this and hope we shall hear your reaction to it at an early date. The letter is self explanatory and will provide the necesa.y publicity ciquired for the formation oi" such I sn organisation as described.