FOR THE REGIMENTAI FUNDS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 49, 22 November 1918, Page 6

FOR THE REGIMENTAI FUNDS

PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES' GRANT TO

N.Z.E.F. IN FRANCE

HOW IT WAS ALLOTTED

The lion, secretary of the < Advisory Board of the Federation of New Zealand 1

Patriotic War 3?eliof Societies (Mr. R. W. Shallcrass) has received from MajorGeneral Sir' Andrew Russell (eomimuidi»K the New Zealand Division), a letter acknowledg ng, "with many thanks," llio allotment of jCfSOOO to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force units in France by the hoard as a first quarterly contribution to regimental funds. "Please express to your board," says the writer, "the hearty thanks of myself and all ranks in the division for this much-ap-preciated increment to regimental funds." The. amount has been allocated as follows £ New Zealand Division 2G59 No. 5 (N.Z.) Light liailway Operating Company ..» ! 25 Otago Mounted Rife 20 XXtt Corps (N.Z.) Cyclist Batt 25 ' No. 2 (N.Z.) Area Employment Coy. 25 N.Z. Entrenching Group 105 N.Z. Infantry and General Base Depot 75 N.Z.E. Tunnelling Company 25 N.Z. Section, No. 4 Veterinary Hos- ' l'ital 10 N.Z. Stationary Hospital . 30 N.Z. 'aectioii,..G.ll.Q., 3rd, Echelon... 10 Total .£3OOO A, suitable amount is also being remitted to Egypt by the executive of the New Zealand Patriotic Associations [or the regimental funds of the New Zealand units there.' A memorandum from the Staff pay. master, .New Zealand Army Pay Office, ],ondon, explains the basis upon which the grant was allotted. "Some New Zealand units in Franco are permitted to have their own canteens, from which they derive a profit which is applied to supplement their regimental funds account, whilst other units, by reason of their being employed on tha lines of communication or attached to British formations are not permitted to establish their own canteens. In distributing your ,£3OOO, therefore, account was taken of other sources of revenue possessed by the various units, and tho amount allocated so as to provide a relatively equal basis of income for all. Tho only New Zealand units in Franco that have, not received a direct allocation am the N.Z. field bakery, the N.Z, field butchery, and Nos. 1-5 N.Z. Depit units of supply. These units, although outsido tho New Zealand Division, are administered by the O.'."'. N.Z. Divisional Train, and as they aie small units (a depot unit of supply comprises fourteen all ranks) and their officers commanding did not desiro any direct contribution, it was considered that amounts required by them could best be obtained as required from .. tho O.C. N.Z. Divisional Train. This Jias therefore been arranged by Headquarters, N.Z. Division, and lias been taken into account in arriving at tho amount allocated to the New Zealand Army Service Corps.

"Expenditure from regimental funds falls almost entirely under the following three heads: (a) Purchase of extra food and comforts for tile men; (b) upkeep of regimental bands; (c) purchase of sports gear. You will quite understand that the ordinary issue rations are apt to become rather monotonous, and purchases for variety are made from the local inhabitants who continue to carry on their industry , in. France almost right up to the firing line. Poultry, eggs, and other farm produce! are especially appreciated by the men.' Hot drinks (cocoa, beef tea, etc.) are also provided for the men on duty in the trendies at night, and you will realise liow this is appreciated by the men, especially iu the winter. One unit went so far last winter as to purchaso a number of Thermos flasks, so that the men on duty might have tha hot drinks continuously in their possession, but this was not a great success, as it was found that the flasks did not long survive the rough usage of trench life. However, each unit sees that its men arc given a good hot drink when coming off duty. "As regards regimental .bands, their usefulness cannot bo overestimated. It is surprising the keen interest and pride which a man takes in his own band, and units naturally vie with .each other in the endeavour that their band shall bo tho best possible. Band contests are hold from time to time, and the' contest recently held by, the 2nd Battalion, Canterbury Kegiment Band, with the 2nd .Battalion N.Z. Rifle Brigade second, and the 2nd Battalion 'Wellington Regiment third. The winning band was given a fortnight's tour to England, and played at our hospitals and convalescent depots hero. "With reference to tho third main heading of expenditure,' 'Purchase of Sports Gear,' the necessity for this is obvious. Apart from the pleasure tho men themselves derive from tho sportsboxing, football, running, .horse-racing, etc.—tho indulgence in sport keeps them fit."