HOW FARE OUR BOYS?

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume L, Issue 175, 24 October 1917, Page 3

HOW FARE OUR BOYS?

THE WO UK OF THE NEW ZEALAND WAR .CONTINGENT ASSOCIATION. (By I. W. .Raymond, Chairman Executive.) '.Despite the reports appearing from time to time in the press as to the workings of this Association, I judge from observations made last May by the Mayor of Auckland and by one or two others at patriotic meetings, that some haziness exists as to the distribution 'of funds at this end. Those responsible for this distribution welcome wholesome and intelligent criticism. It is stimulating and indicates that a healthy interest is manifested in the distribution of funds byi those -who have remitted them, ■but what is rightly resented is statements being made .for-(publication which a little enquiry would have shown to be erroneous. A reasonable course to adopt would 'be to cable to the Association first lor its explanation. In the case of the remarks made by the 'Mayor of Auckland, Colonel Parkes has already written to the {Mayor .pointing out that his letter had" been misunderstood, 'but it is so unfortunate that a gentleman holding a .public position should have made a statement, which gave an entirely wrong impression when a little enquiry would have elicited the facts. Our critics should remember that of the thousands of our gallant boys who have passed through the hands of our Association there are few who will not feel a sense of appreciation to their countrymen in London for what has .been done on their behalf through tuo various committees of the Association. Many of our boys after a short stay in this alluring centr e find that money is very volatile. There are reasons why it ds not always judicious to replenish their ccffers, so occasionally criticism, is met with at this end. The Association has, however, never refused to provide tree, comfortable quarters for any soldier in straightened circumstances. Many of such have reached this stage through no fault of their own, having been relieved of their .pay. There exists ro other organisation in the United Kingdom to meet this situation. The Association has never since its inception declined to respond to a request for contributions, made by the military or medical authorities. Occasions have arisen where it has offered to render service to fit and unfit men, but for no doubt good' and sufficient reasons, the proffered help has been declined. The Association, with its extensive organisation, could have done much more than .it, ha? but for the fact that the moneys" remitted to .it nave been specially .earmarked/ for sick and- -wounded, except in a few instances.

An appeal was made by cable, fol ■lowed up iby a letter, asking for permission to expend' on fit men—with the approval of the G.0.C—25 per cent, of the remittances, but no definite reply was ever given. The fact must not be overlooked that unless there existed some organisation to take a fatherly interest in the lit men who arrive here ia many cases without knowing anyone, they would encounter dangers that would require some fortitude to resist. This Association was the first to recognise the danger of not providing a home life for the Dominion soldier when. in the United 'Kingdom and of not occupying his time in every way possible in healthy attractions. The value of the work done under this head can never be adequately gauged. The New 'Zealand Soldiers' Club has proved a sanctuary and a blessing, to thousands. It is the only club in London whose members of committee personally meet every train arriving at Victoria Station. The New iZealand men are collected and their transport arranged direct to th e club, where hot supyjers are provided, oo arrival, even though it be in th e early hours of the morning. Their own countrymen are these voluntarily arainisterinig to their comforts: A considerable number of the men hand over their "payi" to the .secretary, who does his best to dribble it out so as to extend it over the furlough. This club is koown all over France as the "New Zealand Eome" in London. Adjoining th e offices in Southampton Row is the canteen, where on an average 100 meals a day are served. Men cut from hospital for the day are entertained free. This in itself is a great and useful work. Then there are the club® at Hornchurch, Brockenhurst, ■Salisbury, Codford, and the recreation •rooms at Oatlands and Walton, all staffed by New Zealand women, many of them well known in the Dominion. The object is to miake the surroundings as homelike as possible, so as to induce the boys, to remain in camp rather than to explore the attractions of the adjoining town. No one who has' not visited these clubs, and seen the canteens full to over-nowing, can form any idea of the benefit they are to the men;

It ds not difficult to realise that after a day or two spent in sight-seeing the boys get boredi and ar e 'at a loose end. the Association has always done its best to cater for the amusemeDts of these—theatre tickets, etc. Those who are not familiar with (London social 'life have no idea of the cess-jpools of infamy that their sons have to run the gauntlet of. Many members of the Association, 'being t-heml- - fathers and mothers', are fully alive to the obligation that they .feel they owe to those in the Dominion who are sufferinnr the agonies of suspense as to how their song are faring.

It should also be remembered that the work of the Association has been practically restricted to the United Kingdom. It has, however, always, sent papers to Trance, and since our mili-tai-y authorities have made use of Fre'v" hospitals, it has sent comforts and necessities to the patients there. In the early- life of the Association, it relied for its resources on contribu-

tions made bv New Zeala.nders here and also on remittances made' by patriotic organisations in the Dominion. The controllers of these funds have sometimes forgotten the embargo they laid upon the Association as to "sick and 'wounded onlv," and have occasionally referred padres and others to the funds lving io the hands' 1 of t<h'e Association, when the applications were. for benefits to fit men here and in France. 'the Association has suffered criticism because of its inability to respond. I can -unhesitatingly affirm that the policy of my co-workers has ever -been to lean sympathetically towards brightening- the" life of our boys as much as possible, but not to overdo it, recognising that it was our duty to co-operate "with the military, authorities in doing everything possible to secure the speedy recovery of the men. In this connection I feel bound' to state that the men well may be thankful that they have such a strict, strong, vet so human a G.O-C. as is General Richardson. However much he may wish to do -for the men, when they are on furlough, the military must keep out of their existence as much as possible. It is here where the work of the Association is of value. If I may say so, those who have drawn .criticism "on the Association are certain Dominion contributors who, with the best of intentions, have remitted sums to irresponsible sources here, because in- theix opinion the Association was too penurious. This has certainly led to' considerable overlapping It is as well that I should state that General Richardson exercise s the right of | vetoing applications from hospitals for ; certain comforts and necessities, and the "mailed fist" sometimes descends. | This 'policy has brought criticism on the j Association, through it no.t being un- j derstood that the Association must conform to the wis-.es oi the military authorities, but I feel it is a sound position for the G.'O.'C. to take up. It pre- j vents 'extravagance and discourages in- ■ discriminate applications. As regards fit men the General re- j cognises "the invaluable work that the ] Soldiers' Cliii> has done, and also the i clubs in th e various camps, and he is , in full sympathy with any work being , extended' to the men which will oc- ! enpy their attention when on leave. I have long held this view, but the re- j strictions imposed by those the Do- j minion as to spending funds merely for \ sick and, wounded have, seriously, cur- j tailed! work for fit men that the Associa- j tiori could have rendered. Money must i be forthcoming for providing attractions ; for our boys, where light refreshments : and healthy entertainments can be obtained. The Association with its band of noble women workers can alone effectively deal -with this situation. ! The names of those who constitute the j Association Executive and th e .various committees are' surely sufficiently well known to the majority of New Zealanders to be a guarantee that, everything will be done that should be,done in the interests of the men and, more- j over, that money will not be wasted. •Surely those on the spot must be more \ familiar with the best means to secure I this end than are those 14,000 miles away? : The criticism by th e Mayor of Auckland on the cost of administration is surely made under an (entire misap- , prehension of facts. The administrative charges of the Association in relation to disbursements does not exceed 5 per , cent. This -for a. distributing organisa- j tion is phenomenally low. R«nt acfor fully 2 per cent.., and) the balance is distributed over travelling expenses visiting hospitals, postages (heavy items) andi clerical.. The fact has also to be remembered) that owing to tne general shortage of office hands, substantial salaries have to be paid to typists and book-keepers. It_ seems very paltry to go into these details, but when an institution staffed by practically all voluntary workers, is charged with extravagant administration, and that by one in a prominent positiou, it calls for an explanation. I would remind Lae critic that certain Voluntary workers on the staff have held their present positions for nearly three years. I know two have declined well-paid Government appointments. Many members of the various committees have held office for nearly thre e years, thev also have been offered' lucrative positions, but thev look upon their work as their contribution towards the main-power necessary to finish the job'. T do trust that for the future before criticism is levelled at the Association, a cable is despatched to 'Tenakoutu," London, ■asking for an explanation. Then go ahead, ana- w e will stand- by our guns.