Their Own Hall

RSL Men In Vila Will Soon Have Their Own Hall

British ex-servicemen in Vila, New Hebrides, will soon have one of the finest meeting places in the South Pacific. They are putting up a two storey building on a block of land overlooking Vila Harbour.

The erection of the building has grown out of an idea put forward when six Australian ex-servicemen met in Vila on Anzac Day, 1953. They decided that as there was no place in Vila where they could hold gatherings, the best thing to do was to put up a building of their own.

Their first move towards this end was to form a British ex-servicemen's association. This now has a member ship of about 100, including 10 Fijians, two Solomon Islanders and four Frenchmen who served in the British forces, and there is also a

ladies' auxiliary.

The president of the association is an Australian, Bill Reid, who said in January: "The ladies' auxiliary has done a lot to raise the funds to put up the building. They have raised about £l,OOO at card evenings, ker messes and so forth since they started two years ago.

"The British Government has leased us the land and has encouraged us to go ahead with our plans. We intend to put up about £2,500 worth of building, and then we hope to get a loan on it to finish the project.

"We have a good friend in SHET, the building contractor, which is doing its best to keep within the financial limits of our association.

"The wiring, painting and furnish

ings are all being done by members of our association in their spare time.

"The building will comprise a main hall with a large verandah overlooking the harbour and a trophy and games room underneath the verandah. It will be of concrete blocks with prefabri cated reinforced concrete beams.

"So far, everything that has been put into the building has been raised by ladies and members.

"We will complete the lower floor trophy and games room first and this will serve as our headquarters until the rest of the building is completed.

"The foundation stone was laid by the British High Commissioner in the Western Pacific, Sir David Trench, and work started in mid-November. We expect to move in in February."

Mr. Reid added that the plans for the building had been drawn by Mr.

George O'Brien, superintendent of the British Administration's Works Depart ment, who had supervised the work step by step.

Mr. O'Brien is one of the associ ation's vice-presidents. Other officers are: Messrs. Geoffrey Wilson (vice president), George Marshall (treasurer), Dave Kay (secretary) and Lai Waqa, Don Havendon and John Coleman (committee members).

The aims of the association are to: • Keep British ex-servicemen to gether and assist distressed mem bers. • Keep alive the traditions of the Navy, Army and Air Force. • Entertain visiting ex-servicemen. • Promote friendly relations with other countries.

At present, the only clubs in Vila that have their own premises with drinking facilities are the New Hebri des Club and the Tennis Club.

Bill Reid says: "Our club will fill a real need, as up to now there has been nowhere for members to drink except at the hotel."