AUSTRALIA'S WAR WORK

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 42, 17 August 1918, Page 11

AUSTRALIA'S WAR WORK

A BUSINESS MAN'S APPRECIA'

TION

Mr. P. J. Nathan, who went to Australia on a business tour in March last, returned to Pahnerston on Wednesday. He has some good words to say for the Australians' war work.

"Amongst the few people I have met since I returned to New Zealand," remarked Mr. Nathan to a Manawatu Times reporter, "I have found the greatest misapprehension in regard to Australia's attitude concerning the war. They have Lid the impression thatthore is no loyalty, no enthusiasm, and no enlistment. It is very doubtful if any country in the world would Vote for conscription, but in Australia the farming class and the mercantile class, all classes except one comparatively negligible numerically, support the war just as loyally as we do here. We have only had ,lj per cent, more enrolments in comparison than Australia has had under the voluntary system. Their system of welcoming returned soldiers leaves nothing to be desired. The towns are all beflagged.. The men receive the warmest possible' welcome, and each contingent as it returns is feted and made much of.

"The organisation of the Red Cross is nothing short of marvellous. One day in each month Sydney and Melbourne have a Bed. Cross Day. In Melbourne, Swanson-street and Collins-street are thrown open solely for Red Cross workers. All vehicular and tram traffic is suspended. Labouring men work for nothing after their day's work finishes at 5 o'clock, right through the night, beflagging the streets and building stalls and kiosks. They do all this work for nothing, and dismantle everything again after the day's work is over. When they work during the daytime they are given their ordinary union rate of wages. At night the streets are lit up with electric light, and the ladies ■sell their gift wares from the stalls. They gather from £50,000 to £70,000 each month. In connection with the French B,ed Cross a silent appeal was made. There were no raffles, and no art unions, but £85,000 Was raised. In the streets of Melbourne alone, in one day, people contributed £1200 without a soul having been asked ■to give. In addition, they are also raising £80,000,----000 a year to carry on the war.