WELFARE OF MEN IN CAMPS

Southland Times, Issue 24235, 19 September 1940, Page 4

WELFARE OF MEN IN CAMPS

TERRITORIAL FORCE ASSOCIATION PROSPECTS OF HEAVIER ’EXPENSE “Territorials will shortly be going into camp for three months’ continuous course of training, and this will entail a considerable expense in attending to their welfare,” states the annual report of the Southland Territorial Force Association to be presented at the annual meeting tonight. “At the beginning of September 1939, war was declared between the Empire and Germany, and practically all the military resources of the Dominion were used in the work of enrolling, training and equipping land and air forces for service overseas. With the completion of the training and despatch overseas of a large number of troops. New Zealand is now turning her attention to the matter of Home Defence, and from now on,the association expects to have a much heavier share of work to do than it has had before."

During the year the association provided comforts at the annual camp of the regiment at Gore and a concert was arranged by Mr P. Linton Hodge. A non-commissioned officers’ room had been furnished and gifts towards it had been made by the Travel Club, Modern Furniture Ltd., Mrs J. C. Mackenzie, William Smith and Co. Ltd., and tire Invercargill Club. The room was officially handed over on June 17. An allocation of £25 had been made for furnishing the officers’ room at the Drill Hall and was being expended by the chairman, Mr C. B. Tapley, on sec-ond-hand furniture. The executive had entertained departing soldiers who were former territorials at afternoon tea and presented them with suitable gifts. During the year several former territorials had attained commissioned rank with the 2nd N.Z.E.F. and the association extended congratulations to them. 1 The year was begun with a balance in the bank of £54/11/5 and after outstanding payments and commitments were met, there would be a balance of £44/15/7. During the year, the association disbursed £62/3/5 in various activities. It received £64/14/7 in subscriptions and donations against £6O/13/11 the previous year.