HOLIDAYS FOR SOLDIERS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 83, 22 June 1945, Page 5

HOLIDAYS FOR SOLDIERS

EXTENSION TO WHAKATANE : ORGANISER'S VISIT For the purpose of extending the scope of a servicemen's, hospitality scheme which Has been functioning very successfully in the Wellington Hawke's Bay and. Taranaki areas Mrs J.-'W. Tnnes, of Wellington visited Whakatane last Tuesday. As a voluntary effort, but with the warm approval of the Army and the Rehabilitation Department Mrs In* ncs, since the early days of the war lias controlled an organisation to providt British Empire troops on leave or v convalescent with holidays in the. country, with information or i other assistance. Believing that holidays on farms w,ill be appreciated by New Zealand servicemen returning from overseas Mrs Tnnes has been making arrangements during her visits to Rotorua Tauranga and Whakatane. for the billeting of men who choose to come to the district under the hospitality scheme. She has invoked the aid of 'hosts and hostesses over a wide, area willing to accept servicemen as guests for short periods. She meets the men on returning troopships.and elsexvhere, learns their preferences regarding accommodation and locality and bring them into contact with their hosts and hostesses. The hospitality • -scheme in which the Ministers, of Defence and Rehabilitation are very interested, will, Mrs Innes hopes, eventually include the whole of New Zealand. When the ..men return to the Dominion she said they will be offered 9 9 a holiday on a farm and they will be able to choose the place they want to go to. Arrangements will also be. made for men who prefer city holidays. Mrs Innes remarked that the time spent in New Zealand, by American servicemen would obviously increase this country's post-war trade, as the United States servicemen , had also been charmed with the Dominion's attractions. ',-.j"ln the meantime, however" she adjded, "I still want to help look after our own and British soldiers. T cannot understand the opinion which seems to be prevalent among many people that visiting servicemen from other countries are more in need of hospitality than our own boys when they return, from war service." M.s Innes has found that the .scheme is well known in the spheres where New Zealand troops are on active service and that inquiries are majde by many men on returning troopships before they set foot ashore. Some thousands of men have enjoyed, the hospitality offered and have obviously gained great benefit from it. Mrs Innes whose bright personality must hav6. carried her far in the ever-expanding sphere of her selfimposed task, lias contacted the M.P. for the district, Mr W. Sullivan, and the Mayor, Mr B. S. Barry, both of whom have expressed the greatest interest in her work and have readily offered their co.-opera-tion. Steps will be taken in the near future through the Red Cross organisation to appoint a liaison officer who may be contacted by those who may feel inclined to offer holiday facilities for those of our men returning from overseas.