PRESS DELEGATES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9478, 16 December 1918, Page 3

PRESS DELEGATES.

TRiBUTES TO THE 'N.Z. 'WAS ■ CONTINGENT. ASSOCIATION.

The above-named body was inaugurated on August 1.4, 1U1.4, the meeting being convened toy the- High < Commissioner.

The original object of the movement 'was to collect money to provide a convalescent home for the reception. ol: ISew Zealand soldiers ■ and to secure die co-operation of the ladies to make and provide clothing lor the men. The Director-General ot the Army and >Vledical Service did not, however, favour the scheme to provide a convalescent home, so the proposal was abandoned and efforts directed towards the establishment of a hospital ■ at Walton-ou-Thanies. This was successfully, launched, and it was managed by the association till early in 1916, when the New' Zealand Medical Authorities of the New Zealand Defence Department took control. An executive and various sub-committees were appointed

Ever, since, the men first arrived in the Kingdom, the official visitors of the Visiting: Committee haveji attended regularly -1 at - the bedside: of patients, wherever ■■■they 1 were, located," and ministered to their/ comforts and necessities.

The function of the New Zealand Club's Committee was to erect and maintain clubs (canteens) and places oi; social entertainment for the men. The committee opened canteens at Codford, Horiiehurch, Walton, Oatlands, Brockenhurst, Torquay, and Kwshott. Hew : Zealand ladies and their staff are in charge of each club. This -factor is the largest asset that the N.Z.W.C.A. possesses, as .the influence of these sympathetic workers on the life of the boys-has'been priceless. The staff do their utin'ost co-giji-terest and entertain the boys, in which direction they have been very successful.

The New Zealand Branch or' the British Red Cross, recognising the. efficient organisation or' the New Zealand War Contingent Association, appointed it as its agent and entrusted the association with the disposal of the clothing and comforts sent to them, and also money contributions. On the retirement of Lord Plunket from the chairmanship of the executive in July, 1917, Mr Raymond succeeded. He was also unanimously elected Chairman of the Red Cross Committee. The affairs of the Red Cross were at once put on d new basis. The Southampton Depot was taken over from the Military, Red Cross depots were opened at the various hospitals, and quartermasters placed in charge. Ample stocks were 1 kept on hand available for requisition by the O.C.s of New Zealand Hospitals, and schedules of comforts were agreed upon between the Chairman; of the Red Cross ■■ Committee and the Director of Medical Services. These arrangements ensured the smooth, economical, and effective running of this department. Last July the Red Cross representative from New Zealand took over the work of the Comforts Committee, and the disposal. of Red Cross goods, and Colonel Rhodes became the chairman of the' committee.- ' ■ '• ■

The largest training camp for New Zealand soldiers in England. is that at SHng, on Salisbury Plain, and too much praise cannot be' given to the V.M.C.A. for the way in which it looks after the men. The delegates paid Sling Camp a visit, and were shown over all its features-. Among them the lied Triangle But stands out very prominently. The visitors were informed that this hut is genei-ally . admitted to be one of the finest-, in England ,and from' its appearance there is every .reason to believe the statement to be justifiable. There are a number of voluntary lady workers, who are in charge of Mrs Mjlrea, of whom we formed a very high opinion. She has proved a mother to the boys, and carries on a large correspondence with New Zealand mothers. | At Codford, also on Salisbury 1 Plain, men who have been discharged j from . hospital received ■special training before being transferred to Sling, from which latter camp they were sent to the front. At Codford the V.M.C.A. has a large hut, which provides fche usual social and canteen facilities for the men. The concert hall of the camp is large and seats about 800. Educational work is carried on at Codford iv special quarters, and good results have been attained..- The V.M.C.A. engaged a special instructor in arts and crafts from, the Kensington School of Arts, and lie .trains the men in leadlight work, basket making, stained glass work, arid kiildred'■ ■'s,ub.-' jects. , . , , . ■ /..•...':■

■•■The-largo New Zealand'military hospitals at Walton-on-Thamcs and Broekenhurst, and the convalescent camp at Hornchurch, are extensive iields for V.M.C.A. work. Tho Walton-on-Tluunes Hospital is divided into two sections, one called 'Mount''Felix' and the other Oat/lands Park, and a very handsome brick building of the V.M.C.A. lies between the two. It is a club that is very popular with the patients, by whom it is largely used. At Brockenhtirst Hospital, situated in Hampshire, on the borders of the New Forest, the >iew Zealand V.M.C.A. renders valuable service to the troops and the Hospital authorities. lii addition to the usual social facilities very extensive 'educational work is carried on, largely on tho lines of curative treatment, but . partly with thil view of equipping the men for 'a i'resh start in life. , '