SPORTS FOR SOLDIERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 July 1942, Page 4

SPORTS FOR SOLDIERS

FACILITIES IN DOMINION CAMPS. VISITS TO SCENIC RESORTS. The soldier of 1942 has a large variety of sports interests, he is given a better range than would be easily available in civilian life, for apart from team sports such as football and hockey provision is made for individual interests like golf and bowls, and indoor pastimes ranging from billiards', badminton, table tennis and quoits to gymnasium sports such as boxing, wrestling and fencing. The large modern gymnasium fitted with up-to-date training equipment. Twenty-five Rugby, twelve soccer and sixteen hockey teams are playing in inter-unit contests in the camp every weekend, and from the national and provincial headliners available in these are chosen representative teams to play outside the camp. Parties of bowlers and golfers are always welcomed at greens and links in the adjacent areas, where towns also provide periodical sports meetings for the camp’s field athletes. Holidays to some of the Dominion s finest scenic resorts, just once-in-a-lifetime dreams to most civilians, are readily available at a reasonable cost to the troops in this camp, and every weekend parties go to the Chateau, Lake Taupo, Wairakei and Rotorua. With free travelling for furlough, and quarter rate rail fares for other leave, a soldier can go to any place in New Zealand from this camp at a small cost when he gets his regular long leave breaks.

The Camp Welfare Officer is continually in touch with outside sports and social organisations, so that a varied programme of amusements is provided both inside and outside the camp. Regular dances, with, partners provided from the nearest townships, are organised by units in the camp, and at weekends the troops are catered for with a number of dances in outside centres, where, also, the Camp Concert Party reciprocates every now and then with a show for patriotic purposes or a local charity. Cam]) welfare activities also include liaison with the National Patriotic Fund for the provision of a wide range of sports and recreational gear. The latter is housed in the Institutes conducted in the Camp by the Church Army, Y.M.C.A., Catholic Hut, and Salvation Army, Everyman’s Organisation conducts two huts from its own . resources, without recourse to patriotic funds. Billiards, snooker and table tennis all have large followings, and tables are never vacant during the evening hours.

Games which are not nearly as popular among civilians as they once were are experiencing a revival in camp, and draught boards and chess boards are in demand.