Magnificent New Club For Kiwis In Japan

Chronicle (Levin), 14 February 1948, Page 4

Magnificent New Club For Kiwis In Japan

(X.Z. Public Relations Service.)

' CT-IOF17, F.eb. 11.' ''A maii eaming £1000 a year at 'liojne could not alford to beloug to a club as. good as tliis, '' renrarked oue Kiwi after looking arouod Aofearoa Club for otlier rauks, oj>e/ied in Ohoi'u . t aday^ by^Brig-adie r d . /Pkojugh bearing little rescinblance to it now the 1 rlub had been constructed on the frame- 1 work of the old 2nd Battalion adininistraticn block evaeu'ated when the battalioji moved to Ozuki. A tribiite to the engmeers' staif officer, Alajor ti. 11. Kerr, for his work in arranging the eonversion of tlie building, was paid by nrigadier Potter at the ollicial opening eereinony which hundreds of Kew Zealanders attended. It was the linest club in Japan, he said. It was possible the Kiwis would not want to go home when the time canie. Corporal C. P. Meads, of Papatoetoe, president of the committee elected to control tlie club, thanked Buigadier Potter for his personal efforts to get the club started. Openiifg off a large entrance is a lounge filled with deep easy chairs and settees and with broad windows from fioor to ceiling. Past the lounge on the ground floor are a billiard room with two tables, three table tennis tables in Ihe next room, and . a dining room direetiy accessibie from a large lnodern kitchen. Tlie dining room can seat 140 at tables of four and eiglit. Also on ihe ground floorf-are lavatories, wash room, clianging i;oom, sliower room and offices for the sta ff. The largest rooni in tlie club is tlie anditoriuui upstairs •iquipped with 250 tulmlar steel up holstered chairs and a wide deep stagc. This will be used for concerts, fihns, shows and dances. Adjacent- the aud:itorin,m is tlie sergeants ' lounge al. most exactlv similar .to its counterpan doAvnstairs. Aboye the bilj.ia.rd and table tennis rooms are reading and \yriting rooms, a library and committee room. ' Probably oue of the most popoia/ parts of tlie club will, be- the snack bar situated over tlie dining room. - Here, as well as easy chairs, is table aecomniodation for 444. All meals and, snaeks provided in tlie club will be sold al nomjnal prices.