BOOKS FOR SOLDIERS

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 266, 1 December 1939, Page 4

BOOKS FOR SOLDIERS

HON. Fi APPEAL

. In a radio talk given by tlie Ren.' F. Waite, D.b\o., jM.Ii.C., chairman of • the library subcommittee oR the National Patriotic Chimeil, the speaker stated,: , '. . ' ta ■ •

in speaking .of - one phase of the National Patriotic Council’s work, T now make an appeal to, you for hooks and magazines for our men andl women who have enlisted.

Although New Zealand is at war with Germany, .so. far, the majority of us arc going about our usual work, not greatly disturbed. But may I remind you that many thousands of our young men and women are already actively training as nurses, soldiers, sailors an<l airmen, and are now away from their homes in camps. And others are on tho high seas, in our cruisers and mine-sweepers; in lonely outposts in the pacific, and at isolated defence posts in many parts of New Zealand. The job of the members of the National Patriotic Council is to see .that our enlisted! men arc looked after. All money raised will he spent in the interests of the troops. This money is

not administered by the Government. The National Patriotic Fund Board and the various provincial patriotic

Councils’ have sole control of their respective funds. It must lie emphasis-

edi Hint the sole aim of everyone cousoldiers, sailors and airmen. Tire 'Government—through the Defence Department and the Way-Ex-, .penses Account—finds the money for the- pay, the feeding, the clothing, the housing,,, and the training of the men. Am' this work—dlespite the. critics—has so far been well done. JJliit after these necessities are provided,- there is ample scope for the work of patriotic people whoi desire t® see that our young volunteers are provided—not only with necessities' (that is taken care of by the War Expenses Account) but also with comforts and amenities and conveniences.

A special sub-committee deals with these matters, and arrangements arc already well in hand for tlic supply o>f musical instruments, .material for sports and games, and additional hand-knitted socks, handkerchiefs, and other welcome additions to the Government issue.

1 wish to 'make, a special appeal to-night on behalf of the library committee, which is entrusted with the furnishing of eam|\ libraries, and with keeping up a supply of hooks, magazines and papers to the outlying outposts. and to military hospitals. In this sphere, not only does the Government provide the library building,' but we are als® fortunate in having the services of the Country Library

Service, which, under the expert guidance of .Mr. Alley, lias put its

valuable organisation at „ theI*service 1 *service of our enlisted men.

In Tren.thmn Camp, the Country

Library' Service was early on the scene, arid, having secured a suitable building, put in a supply of books, and laid the foilluUation of a very successful lending library*. arid reading room. 'The Newspaper Projectors* Association made arrangements, for. tlio principal newspapers td .lyk sent daily,’ and the. reading room service is most appreciated by the boys.

When . suitable accommodation is available at Burnham, Papakura and Ngaruawahia, similar lending libraries will be established. ...

An urgent need is a continuing-sup-ply of books and illustrated magazines and -papers. What sort of books ? All, kinds of novels, a proportion of travel books, biographies, and any books of general literature. Obviously, the greatest demand will he for fiction, but a very good rule to keep in mind is t<x send' that class of book or magazine that you yourself would be glad to receive. Obviously, books should be clean and in good order; aiuli magazines of the, in,ore topical kind shorn Id not be too far out ol' date. For the lending libraries in the main camps, we could do with a large supply of lief ion and -general literature; while, for the smaller camps, for hospitals, and, lor despatch to ships overseas, the following are desirable: paper-backed novels of “Penguin’’ type, illustrated papers, and magazines ol the “Digest” type.

Whore should these books and) papers be .sent? To any Public Library, addressed: “Library Service, Military Camps”. The members of the New Zealand Library Association are giving the fullest co-operation, and it has now been,arranged, that each Public Library throughout Now Zealand will act as receiving agent for all parcels of books and periodicals. The Country Library Service has undertaken the administration of the scheme which involves receiving and sorting books, preparing them for circulation, and forwarding .them to camps. .Gimp librarians are instructed in library methods by members of its staff, it lias also decided to lend books to the* camps from the large stocks on its travelling book-vans. The) first essential step in the organisation of camp library service is the collection of stocks of hooks. Up till now we have been relying upon voluntary Voutributions of hooks from private individuals, and from the unused stocks of Public Libraries, and we now make an appeal to. all listeners to go through their hook-shelves and make-up a parcel ol hooks for the Scivice.

Jt should he emphasised that there are over ten thousand men in our camps and air stations and ships, whose reading interests are many and varied. This' means that books on a wide range of subjects will he needled. Those who make gifts are assured th_.it hooks will he well looked alter, and that every attempt will he made I a put books where they will lie used.

Stocks on hand are being dealt with as quiekly as possible, because, at present, the demand is greater than the supply. In homes and in puhlh- libraries all over the country there must he a great number of idle books which would be used if they were directed into the right quarter.

So, please! Make up a parcel of hooks, label it. "Library Service, Military Camps”, and take the parcel to ycur Public Library.