CENTRAL DEPOT

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20953, 4 November 1939, Page 10

CENTRAL DEPOT

GOODS FOR SOLDIERS RECEIPT AND DISPATCH PROPER CONTROL NEEDED The necessity for a central headquarters for the receipt and dispatch of goods sent from different parts of the Auckland Province for the soldiers in camp, to avoid any confusion, was stressed by the Mayor of Auckland, Sir Ernest Davis, at a meeting of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic Council in the Hamilton municipal chambers last night. Sir Ernest, who is chairman of the council, presided over the meeting. The discussion followed the introduction of a resolution by the chairman to the following effect: “That, as a major activity enlisting the voluntary services of women, the council adopts In principle the chairman’s scheme for the provision to members of the forces in the province of 4000 pairs of hand-knitted sox, 4000 pairs of pyjamas, 4000 Christmas packages and a supply of Christmas puddings, and authorises the special committee of the council to complete details; zone committees in the meantime to be asked to indicate the approximate number of pairs of sox, pyjamas and handkerchiefs it is prepared to make, assuming that full supplies of the materials can be made available.” Population Basis Mr L. R. Wilkinson (Bay of Plenty) said it would be a good idea to allocate to each zone the quantity of goods it was required to provide. This view was shared by Mr T. Jackson (Rotorua), who suggested that the allocations might be worked on a population basis. The resolution as presented to the meeting was carried. “The best thing we can do in this respect,” said Sir Ernest, “is to take advantage of the Auckland branch of the St. John Ambulance Association and make it a central headquarters for the receipt and distribution of these goods. With such large quantities being handled, it will be better for them to go through the one channel. We have plenty of room in the Auckland Town Hall for the purpose, and I am sure that this will be the best way to do it. We must do things on a business like basis, and you can depend on it that I will see that we have competent workers to make sure the whole thing is properly handled. It is a very important matter and must not be dealt with in half measures.” After further discussion, the Auckland branch of the St. John Ambulance Association was authorised as agent for the receipt and dispatch of goods for the soldiers in camp, subject to conditions to be laid down by the special committee of the council. DENIMS ISSUED MEN AT TRENTHAM (Special to Times) WELLINGTON, Friday Members of the special force in training at the Central District Mobilisation Camp, Trentham, have now been issued with khaki denims, which they will wear for training when the weather becomes warmer. The issue of the second uniform will also overcome the difficulty of those who did not previously have a change of clothing. Many men took their civilian kit into camp with them, but those who did not had nothing into which to change if their uniforms became unwearable during wet weather. An iron is to be placed in each company store, and the men will be encouraged to make use of them to smarten up their khaki serge uniforms. *