CAIRO CLUB GIFT TO EX-SERVICE PATIENTS IN N.Z.

Grey River Argus, 27 March 1948, Page 3

CAIRO CLUB GIFT TO EX-SERVICE PATIENTS IN N.Z.

WELLINGTON, March 24

A gift of money from the Kiwi Club at Helouan, near Cairo, has resulted in the establishment of libraries for ex-service patients at the Midctlemore (Auckland), Wellington Public, Lower Hutt, Rotorua, and Burwood Hospitals. The Kiwi Club, which was used as a recreation centre for patients at I lie Helouan Hospital, felt it would like to hand over Hie balance of its funds io the New Zealanders, in view of the fact that the ma.jo«ty of servicemen and women who used the club from 1911 onwards were meinbers of rhe \\w Zealand forces. The club asired Lady Fre.vberg to net as its intermediary, and sent her a cheque for 1617 13s 6d. The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, and tiie committee of the N.Z.R.S.o. were advised of the gift. Genera! agreement was reached that the money should be used for the benctit of ex-service patients still in New Zealand hospitals, many of them having visited the Kiwi Club during their .>tay in Egypt. On learning of the gift, the National Patriotic Fund Board made the total up to £lOOO, and il was arranged through th.; Joint Council of Hie Order of St. John and the Red Cross Society to use the money for the establishment of small libraries in the recreation huts at. the hospitals mentioned. The men using the libraries have been warm in their praise o. the Kiwi Club and the National Patriotic Fund Board for their gifts, and have expressed their thanks to Lady Freyberg for her help m their provision.