CARE OF THE SOLDIER.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16516, 7 May 1919, Page 9

CARE OF THE SOLDIER.

GOOD WORK OF CHURCH OF ENGLAND. The Military Affairs Committee for the Church of England in New Zeaiapd submitted- to the General Synod, now in session at Napier, a, report of its work among the members of the - Expeditionary Forces, both in the Dominion and at tho front, of whjoh the following is an abstract:— From the report it will bo seen that from a small beginning; quietly but effectively, " tho work lias, year by year, grown, until in the last year of the war £'28,000 has been collected and used for the benefit of the men, no matter to what denomination they belonged. The interest aroused ; in tho work was due largely to the efforts of Mr R. W. Simpson, of Timary, who gratuitously gave his services during sis months of 10X7 to visiting the various dioceses, and explaining the responsibilities of churchmen on behalf of the men who had so willingly offered" themselves for service at the front. Towards the close of 1917 the Military Affairs Committee and the Church Army were co-ordinated, it? order thßt both bodies should work together. Their needs were advertised in the papers of the Do'minion, the result- o( wbinli wag shown by the increase in the donations, an increase which enabled £-27,000 to be sent to thß Ho?qe Committee, for work in France, Palestine, the transports, and wherever needed. During the period of tho war, institutes were established et the various training camps in New Zealand, vij.: Trentham", Feathereton, Tauherenikay, Awapuni, Narrow Neck, and, on the establishment of the hospital for invalided soldiers, at Rotorua. Since demobilisation has taken place, some of the a mailer institutes have been closed, but work is still carried on to a lesser degree in Trentham and I'eatherston, while the work has increased at Rotorua, the attractive and well-designed institute, containing reading, writing, and games rooms, a billiard room, and well-equipped kitchen, attract large numbers of the invalided men. Some idea of the social work may be gathered from the fact that, since its opening by the Governor-General in July, 1918, no fewer than 35,000 free meals, i.e., afternoon teas and suppers,iave been provided. is the spiritual side neglected, for, of course, there is the chaplain in charge, whose duty is not only to generally supervise, but also to minister to all. Additions have already had to be made to this rest house, and from all appearances, further accommodation will soon be needed. In addition, a chaplain has been

appointed for Auckland, and has bean at work for over u year, whose special duty is to visit the military hospitals, • board the returning transports, and give ndvico and assistance whenever he can. His services also have been much appieciated and have #hown good roaults, These various activities Jisve still to be undertaken, and will )jc carried on aa long us any of our returned men are in hospitals or sanatoria, ifcd, of course, funds must Btill b© provided to enable the 'Military Affairs Committee io continue their work, j The committee brought under .the notice of the Government of New Zealand the fact that many transports had been despatched from New Zealand or Great Brituin without a chaplain of any with the result that, owins to their . representations, latterly no ship had sailed without having at least one chaplain on board. Briefly, the financial position is that there has been received from the outset in 1914, when Trentliam was first opened as a training camp, up. to April, 1919, the sum of £47,003, while in builcljng and equipping the institutes, £9625; in upkeep of same, lighting, beating, stationery, etc., and stipends. £5046; in looking after welfare of the men at the front, and on tho transports, £27,258; in advertising, £2731. The amount expended has been roughly £44,000, leaving a balance in April of £3000, wliich will help the committee to "carry on" for a while, but it hgs to be remembered that the work is to continue as long as there is a necessity for it. Though the need? are not so great as during the strenuous days of the war, yet the expenses at Trentham, Featherston, Rfltorua, and Auckland still go on, and it isthe hopo of the committee that the churchmen of the Dominion will still recognise their responsibilities to the men who have fought and been broken for them, and will never cease to work while a single invalided man needs the ministrations of the dear old Mother Church.