TOUR OF ISLANDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 August 1943, Page 4

TOUR OF ISLANDS

MADE BY PATRIOTIC BOARD

SECRETARY.

NEEDS OF FORCES STUDIED.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) VZELLINGTON, This Day.

The secretary of the National Patriotic Fund Board, Mr G. A. Hayden, has returned from a three weeks’ visit, to the New Zealand forces in the Pacific with a feeling of deep admiration for the resourcefulness and keenness of the New Zealand troops to help themselves. Some months ago, especially, he«said, it had not been easy to supply the troops there with all the amenities it was desired to send them, owing to a lack of shipping space. The position was now easier, but the troops had not stood idly by. They had displayed remarkable ingenuity. He had come back feeling that these men were worthy of all the people in this country could send them in the way of comforts and amenities. He would advise friends and relatives not to send tobacco or cigarettes unles these men specially asked for them. The great majority were now smoking American cigarettes, which were also being issued by the Army, and which the men could buy cheaply. Mi- Hayden’s visit was a study at first hand of the requirements of the men. The main needs, in order of urgency, were for more lighting facilities, more radios and more picture plants. He had also found some modification was necessary in the contents of the patriotic gift parcels at present being sent to these areas. He had travelled about 7000 miles by air in three weeks, visiting every island where New Zealanders were stationed in any number. In New Caledonia he was accompanied by M'ajor Brain, the board's commissioner in the Pacific, who was doing an exceptionally fine job, and when he visited Tonga Captain Herbert had been on the island for about a fortnight and had things running well. Mr Hayden is to make a detailed report to the Patriotic Board this week.