H—22A

Air Force Relations From the early days of the war this organization saw to the provision of amenities, woollen comforts, &c., for Air Force personnel. Although the cessation of hostilities meant a lessening demand for woollens, there was still a considerable amount of work in providing garments for personnel returning home and those attached to the K.N.Z.A.F. Squadron, Japan. New Zealand Lady Galway Patriotic Guild During the year this Guild sent overseas 556 cases of clothing, making a total of 8,709 cases since its inception. Overseas Seamen's Gift Committee This Committee ceased to be an expending agent of the Board on the 31st December, 1945. The organization, together with a similar one in Auckland associated with the Auckland Metropolitan Committee, had, since the early days of the war, provided personnel on overseas merchant ships with gift parcels,' woollen comforts, books, periodicals, and other ship-board amenities, mainly from patriotic funds. The Board desires to express its appreciation of the work of the Committee in this most important phase of the patriotic effort. Woollen Comforts f The work of providing woollen comforts for service personnel was concluded in 1946, and brought to a close a service which had done much to add to the comfort of New Zealand service personnel both overseas and in New Zealand. The huge volume of knitting done by the women of New Zealand is indicated in the table set out below, and a special tribute is due to them for this magnificent work, and also to Mrs. A. A. Stitchbury (Navy), Mrs. D. C. McKae (Army), and Miss Morice (Air Force), who supervised the distribution of the wool and the sorting and packing of the knitted garments.

Cumulative Return of Woollen Goods made and issued during the Period 1940 to September, 1946

4. Work Overseas Pacific The year under review saw the termination of the work of the Board in the forward areas and its limitation to Fiji and Norfolk Island. No. 1 Islands Group.—The supply of amenities to this area could not have been satisfactorily accomplished without the ready and practical assistance of Air Department in the provision of air freight. At peak, Air personnel were stationed on twenty-five

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— Balaclavas. Gloves. Mittens. Pullovers. Scarves. Seaboot Stockings. Socks. i Miscellaneous. Army Air Force Relations Navy League Overseas (Army, Navy, and Air Force) Totals .. 29,881 49,474 32,232 249,511 > 913 7,595 5,928 8,270 29,636 58,705 26,747 168,573 4,775 81,059 20,203 30,569 70,152 68,540 26,514 202,562 5 8,725 4,274 64,154 13,530 29,129 73,906 1,720 14,664 6,633 17,465 361,098 22,706 283,661 136,606 367,768 13,004 180,719 40,482