Comforts on Troopships

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 5, 6 January 1940, Page 6

Comforts on Troopships

FILMS TO BE SHOWN Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Jan. 5. In addition to the games, fruit and various other comforts the National Patriotic Fund Board has provided for tile first echelon of the second New Zealand Expeditionary Force, the men will also be able to have their picture entertainments on the troopships. When tho Minister of Defence, Hon. F. Jones, found there were motion-pic-ture projectors available on the ships, he took steps to sec whether films could be provided. The matter was taken up at once by tho Patriotic Fund Board and as a result of its efforts and the co-opcration it received in its inquiries a fine selection of films was supplied. In response to the board's representations, R. L. Grant, manager of British Empire Films (N.Z.), Ltd., at once arranged a supply of 20 programmes, comprising feature films, subject to their return afterward and on the condition also that they were insured. Tho films are valued at £3OOO and the coat of tho insurance of them is being borno by the Army Department. The board was also able to arrange with tho Film Exchanges' Association of New Zealand to provide some additional films for tho troops. To ensure that tho troops receive the comforts provided for them and also that these gifts are under proper con* trol, the Army authorities, at the- request of the National Patriotic Fund Board, have appointed six gifts officers, who are to undertake these duties on the transports. They will havo full charge of the board’s comforts aboard ship. The duties of these officers are to see that a committee is appointed on each ship lo promote all kinds of games, entertainments aud to act as an issuing agnet of comforts to tho committees. A specific instruction to them will ensure the consumption of all edible goods during the voyage. The gifts officer, therefore, stands as a controller of comforts, which are to bo kept entirely separate from the quartermaster's store, thus ensuring that the comforts which have boen supplied for troops will be used by and for the rank and file.