N.Z. WAR CONTINGENT ASSOCIATION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 9212, 5 February 1918, Page 7

N.Z. WAR CONTINGENT ASSOCIATION.

A PROGRESS REPORT. Mr L. H. Trip]), c-huirman of tho Advisory .Board, iNew itealuiid War j Contingent Association, has received a, i progress report from Mir. London socrei uiry, from which the following are j extracts: — j The greatest section of our work ' comes under the lioad ol ministering jto tlie sick and wounded, practically ■ ail our financial resources being sup--1 i-iiied through the New Zealand Red j Cross. There is a good deal of work done in connection with lit men, and suli more might bo done with great advantage to the men, which, ' after all, is what patriotic organisations are primaril yinterested in. For the information of your board 1 desire to say that the money corning in through the Red Cross is ample to maintam present requirements. .Entertainments entail a large outlay, but money spent under this head has obtained good value. The O.C.s of the various hospitals have written expressing the j view that these entertainments, such as drives, concerts, etc., are an " essential part of the treatment of the j patients." The patients in tlio ' New Zealand hospitals fare better than j those in any other I have visited. The food is good and supplied in' ample quantities, and is well cooked. I have not heard more than half adozen complaints durin gthe many visibs I have paid to hospitals. The fit. men, that is to say, men on furlough, from trance or from die convalescent camps, aro rather a difficult proposition. The Association would like to do more for these men. They do not need mothering; they have arrived in London for a holiday, or. ns they put it, for a good time. After a few days here, the majority migrate to Scotland or Ireland, and return in time to rejoin their camp life or to go to France. The Soldiers' Club in Russell Square has been an enormous benefit to these boys. It is always full, and accommodation has often to be found outside. There is good reason for its popularity: the food supply is of the best, and fully 50 per cent cheaper in value than what can he obtained anywhere else. The staff of cooks and waitresses is entirely' voluntary, and, with one of two exceptions, wholly New Zealanders. This fact alone exercises a great influence for good and helps to make the club a. centre of attraction to the boys who are anxious to get into touch with womenkind who know about them and their country. Concerts and dances are held at this chib as frequently as possible. Everything is being done that can reasonably be done. I am satisfied that the members of the Association and their band of helpers would only irritate and annoy the boys if they tried to push themselves too much into their life during their short holiday. We continue to have many applications for help for football. outfits, and, in seaEon, for cricket materials, and possibly for a contribution towards a billiard table or the furnishing of some club or mess room. It will be remembered .tlu;t when the application for the expenditure of £1000 was made from the board some time ago, General Richardson intimated that there would be no occasion to remit any money to units in France. It did not occur to him that the detached units required football material, etc., and had no funds by which they could obtain it. Subsequently he realised the position, and has approved .various applications which the Association has responded to. There are other requisitions of a. similar nature that have to be held over or turned down because of lack of funds. I would suggest, therefore, that your board might see their way to remit a further sum of £1000, to he expended under the discretion of the committee, in supplement of your previous very acceptable contribution of £1000, which is only used for the en- '■> tertainmeut of fit men on leave from France.