OUR WOUNDED SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2954, 14 December 1916, Page 6

OUR WOUNDED SOLDIERS

WW ZEALANDERS IN ENGLAND

(By a Speicnl Correspondent.)

(New Zealand "War Contingent Association.)

London, November 7. Since their arrival in England, Mr. Jlassey and Sir Joseph Ward have had many opportunities of observing the work which is being done for New Zealand soldiers by the New Zealand "War Contingent Association. On the day after their arrival they visited No. 2 New Zealand General Hospital, which, under the name of the Now Zealand Auxiliary Hospital, was the first tangible outcome of tho association's work. It commenced with only 100 beds, but has been added to again and again, and since it was finally taken over by tho New Zealand Medical Corps it has been increased to more than 1000 beds. Mr. Massey spoke in very high praise of the _ work _of tho association in establishing this institution, to which ho has paid another visit. Mention has also_ been mado of the hostel for our soldiers in Russell Square and the soldiers' clubs at the various depots and camps. At the luncheon of the Royal Colonial Institute last week, Sir Joseph "Ward referred in very cordial terms to the association's devoted work amongst the New Zealanders.

The committee which is in most direct touch with our wounded is the Visiting Committee, whose duty it is to _seo that all hospital inmates are visited and provided with anything they require, hoth in the form of comforts and to replace articles of kit. The expenses of the Visiting Committoo for the month of ' September amounted to more than £500. But in September the wounded irom the Sommo offensive were only beginning to reach England. By the end of the month there were nearly 5000 of our men in hospital on this side of the Channel—including 1200 in Brocke.ilhursfc,' 1000 at Hornchurch, and 1800 in various British hospitals. This means a very considerable increase in both work and expenditure. The Visiting Committee's estimates for the ensuing month's expenditure amounted to £1700, including very big purchases of comforts and small articles which were Bound to Derequisitioned. This accounts almost all the expense, for all the visitors are voluntary workers, and practically the -whole of the olhce work is also done without fee oi-l-enumeration. ' The Soldiers' club. In case there should be any idea that our men do not appreciate the accommodation for them by the New Zeaiand War Contingent Association, it may be stated that up to the end of {September 7500 beds had been occupied at the hostel in Russell Square, or a daily average of 125.. Men passing tnrough London had taken 4UOO. breakfasts at the club, 2000 dinners, and 1800 teas, while the club canteen had served more than 14,000 soldiers. It has to bo borne in mind that the facilities that are provided by the assooiation are in many cases the alternative of a second-rate publichouse. It is a'considerable achievement to have provided for 357 New Zealanders per day who are constantly passing / through London. _ The use of tho club-is entirely optional, but the committee, by meeting leave-trains, give the soldiers a chanco of beginning their furlough among friends, and under safe conditions for themselves.

There is no fear that-the New Zealand national gamo will fall into abeyance while our men are on service in JCurope. -At least one of the casual ties In the English hospitals to-day is tlio direct result of a iootball accident behind the lmos in I'rance. Wherever any of our soldiers aro gathered together in England tliero is a Rugby fifteen, and before the' first frost had made its appeaarnco they were playing Rugby matches witn local clubs. Incidentally, at Swansea on Saturday, belora 6000 people, they turned tho tables on South \Vales, by defeating them by 9 points to 7. One of tho knottiest questions which have had to he decided by -the New Zealand "War Contingent Association for some time past, was the problem of allotting a moderate sum of money for the equipment of the Rugby representatives of five different branches of tho service in tho reserve camp at Sling, and a representative team from the five. The difficulty was got over by voting £25 to tho camp generally for the purposes of obtaining football equipment.