AT TE RAPA CAMP

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21221, 18 September 1940, Page 6

AT TE RAPA CAMP

Y.M.C.A. ESTABLISHMENT RECREATION FOR THE MEN One of the brightest spots at the Te Rapa military camp, particularly as the area is in isolation, is the Y.M.C.A. establishment. When leave was restricted owing to the outbreak of measles the need for adequate recreation facilities became the more apparent. On a very few hours’ notice the National Committee of the Y.M.C.A. sent a field secretary to Te Rapa, and with the co-operation of the military authorities the work was in progress almost immediately. The Y.M.C.A. has been established beneath the old grandstand, canvas awnings have been erected to keep out weather, and electric light has been installed. At the northern end of the hut a good canteen service is available for the troops, who may secure hot cups of tea at all hours. Facilities for letter writing form an important section of the service and almost continually men can be found writing. Stamps are sold and every day about 200 letters are posted in the hut. A laundry and film developing service has been made available, and the Y.M.C.A. secretary assists in camp recreation. Reading Material Games available for the entertainment of the troops include table tennis, darts, cards, draughts and quoits. In the hut there is a radio, while a piano has proved one of the most popular forms of entertainment. With the assistance of patriotic organisations in Hamilton adequate reading material has been made available for the soldiers. Army life makes a soldier domesticated because often he has to attend to his own laundry. As a result an ironing point which has been installed in the hut for the use of the men is popular. The hut is used for concerts, lectures, and religious programmes. Much of the success of the Y.M.C.A. establishment at Te Rapa is the result of the helpful cooperation of the citizens of Hamilton.