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building alterations and equipment. Major Harvey Turner was appointed Manager of the club and the success of the club is largely due to the capable manner in which he carried out his duties. The club has more than proved its value in the months which have ensued. (d) Lowry Hut, Maadi.—On I.7th July, 1941, the Lowry Hut was opened in Maadi Camp. This hut was built from funds (£10,000) donated by Mr. T. H. Lowry, Hastings, whose daughter (Mrs. Chapman) is in charge. The hut is administered by the Y.M.C.A., and is an outstanding amenity much appreciated by our forces. (e) Assistance to British Forces in Egypt. —Apart from the considerable expenditure involved in providing comforts for our own forces in Egypt, the Board gives assistance to British forces stationed there. The Board approved the payment of travel and equipment expenses and salaries of four men from New Zealand until such time as they arrived in Egypt, and were attached to the British Y.M.C.A. The expenses of six New Zealand women workers attached to the British Y.W.C.A. are subsidized by the Board. All New Zealand recreation huts are open to British soldiers in uniform, and the New Zealand Forces Club in Cairo and the club in Alexandria arc freely used by British forces. From time to time grants of money are made to the Tippcrary Club, the Services Club, and the Homestead, lielwan, all of which are controlled by the British Comforts Fund Organization. The New Zealand Kiwi Concert Party and the New Zealand Mobile Cinema unit give performances to British troops, and in other directions every effort is made to co-operate in the entertainment of British forces adjacent to New Zealand units. The Board makes grants to the British Comfort Fund, the Royal Naval Benevolent Fund, and the Boyal Air Force Benevolent Fund for comforts for British forces, irrespective of where they are stationed. Reports from Egypt show that a spirit of comradeship exists between men from all British and allied countries concentrated there, and that recreation and club facilities, as well as gift parcels, provided by New Zealand Patriotic Funds are spontaneously shared with men from other countries when units are intermingled in hospitals or camps. (/) Loss of Comforts in Greece and Crete.—The evacuation resulted in serious losses of comforts and material supplied by the Board, and considerable expense was entailed in replacing these losses which included woollen comforts, band instruments, and general equipment. In order to assist the evacuated men after their trying ordeal extra comforts were given to them on their return to Egypt, and a small cash grant was made from the Board's funds to enable the men to replace essential personal gear. (g) Comforts for Men in the Far East. —When New-Zealanders were sent to the Far East, Mr. C. R. Knowles was appointed the Board's Honorary Liaison Officer. Following this appointment various comforts were supplied to our men in the Far East. Illustrated daily and weekly newspapers were made available, and an imprest was opened to enable Mr. Knowles to deal with urgent requirements on the spot. Up to the end of the year under review every effort had been made to care for the comforts of the limited number of Air Force and Navy personnel in that theatre of war. (h) Films on Transports.—As far as possible the Board has arranged for the supply of films to every transport leaving New Zealand and in this connection valuable assistance has been given by the Film Exchange Association of New Zealand Incorporated in providing suitable films free of charge. (i) " N.Z.E.F. Times."—During the year considerable thought was given to the provision of a suitable newspaper for our fighting men overseas. The Board financed the N.Z.E.F. Times, Cairo, through its preliminary stages. From its inception, this newspaper has been eminently successful, 10,000 copies being printed weekly and distributed free to the troops. The paper is now selfsupporting. The staff has been provided by the Public Relations Office of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (j) New Zealand Forces in the United Kingdom. —When the Second Echelon was transferred to the Middle East the New-Zealanders remaining in Great Britain, apart from the Forestry Units, were attached to either the Royal Navy or the Royal Air Force, and could not be contacted collectively. Practically all gifts required to be personally addressed and sent through the post. The New Zealand War Services Association, under the chairmanship of the High Commissioner for New Zealand, Mr. W. J. Jordan, undertook this work, and the care of our forces generally in Great Britain. The Board despatches to this association gift parcels, woollen goods, and bulk supplies of comforts, for distribution, and the High Commissioner has been supplied with an Imprest Account for welfare work amongst our Forces. The Board desires to record its appreciation of the splendid work carried out by the High Commissioner and the New Zealand War Services Association, in Great Britain. (k) New Zealand Forces in Canada.—For the purpose of serving New Zealand Forces in Canada the Board, in conjunction with the Australian Comforts Fund, opened a club in Halifax, which was known as the " Down Under " Club. This club has been staffed by the citizens of Halifax, but the Board has a permanent officer there, Mr. K. M. Gresham, of the New Zealand Y.M.C.A. The New Zealand Liaison Officer in Ottawa has operated as the Board's distributing agent for gift parcels and cigarettes. VII. Special Phases of Patriotic Wobk. (a) War Library Service.—The total issues of books and periodicals to the Navy, Army, and Air Force in New Zealand and overseas to 30th September, 1941, were : Books, 125,432 ; periodicals, 136,223. The Board wishes to express its appreciation of the services of Mr. G. T. Alley, of the Country Library Service, and his staff, for undertaking the supervision of this work on behalf of the Board, and also to record its thanks to the Librarians throughout New Zealand who have co-operated with the Country Library Service in this work. (b) Provision of Band Instruments. —Waiouru Camp was provided with a complete set of instruments, and many minor demands were met from all the fighting services. All the equipment supplied to the 4th and sth Brigade Bands and to the Pipe Bands was lost in Greece and Crete. These bands have been re-equipped. The total amount of money expended on bands, both abroad and within the Dominion, during the twelve months was £3,849. (c) Production and Issue of Woollen Comforts. —Large quantities of woollen comforts have been issued to New-Zealanders on active service abroad. A proposal was considered that woollen comforts

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