THE WOUNDED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16577, 28 December 1915, Page 6

THE WOUNDED

(Fbom Ons Own Oorrespondbnt.) LONDON, November 5. New Zealanders generally, and especially tho relatives of our wounded soldiers, may rest assured that there is not an atom of truth in tho wicked statement of a contributor to a London daily that men from tho Antipodes have been compelled to sleep out cm the Embankment for lack of accommodation. As far as New Zealanders are concerned, I can state absolutely that there is no truth whatever in this assertion. From the moment they land in England the men aro as much at home as it is possible to be at tho other end of the earth. Their life and conditions in tho British' military hospitals is tho subject of universal praise by the men themselves, and when they go out on furlough they are well looked after both by the Record Office and by the War Contingent Association, both of which have MiMackenzie as the official head. They aro recommended to lodgings, and they are provided gratis with any email comforts they require, besides which, of course, they receive, on leaving tho hospital, any pay that is due to them. Tho Maoris have, moreover, the special attention of Mrs Scott, a member of their own race, who has put her whole house at their disposal, and .Corporal Warbrick, who has been selected as a man of strong character, looks after them in London. Nobody here who is in a position to know has heard .of a single case of hardship such as the London contributor referred to. There aro very few of our soldiers. indeed, who could not, if they wished, spend their furlough as guests in English homes; but most- of them naturally prefer to stay in lodgings in London and see the sights. LORD MAYOR'S SHOW. The new Lord Mayor, Sir Charles Wakefield, is a member of the same branch of tho family as Edward Gibbon Wakefield. He has never been in New Zealand, but on one occasion he actually booked through to Wellington', but had to conclude his tour in Australia. Sir Charles, in response to a suggestion which I made to him a week or two ago, has indnecd the War Office to alter its programme for Lord Mayor's Show, which takes place next week, and to invite a contingent of New Zealand soldiers to take part in tho military proccssion. The invitation has now been conveyed to the High Commissioner, and 150 New Zealanders, with officers, will take part. CHRISTMAS TREATS. An order has been placed in London this week with a well-known firm . for the despatch of a large consignment of Christmas puddings to the Mediterranean as a gift from the readers of the Press, Christchurch, to soldiers from Canterbury, "Westland, Nelson, and Marlborough. The puddings will leave by a Government transport in the course of two weeks, and will be distributed to the troops at tho front, wherever that may be at the time, and at the base in Egypt. A portion of, tho consignment will also be distributed _ amongst the men from the districts mentioned who are in this country and have been released from hospital. These aro principally at the base depot at Weymouth and at the Convalescent Camp at Epsom. The War Contingent Association is making arrangements for a Christmas entertainment for the Now Zealand soldiers who are spread all over the United Kingdom. It will probably take tho form of an afternoon social gathering, with musical programme and, perhaps, gift trees Those who are in hospitals under diet will probably each receive a gift from the association. A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that the holiday passed quietly, large crowds going to the various pleasure resorts and picnic grounds, but the weather, which was fino in tho early part of the day, broke late in the afternoon, and with tho approach of nightfall a heavy downpour set in, which continued. No accidents were recorded, excepting tho case of a motor wagon, owned by Mr Len Cloke, of Lower Hutt. While carrying a party of picnickers to Day's Bay Jio car caught fire, and was considerably damaged, having to be run into the sea to prevent its complete destruction. It is understood that no ono was injured. A Press Association message from Wellington states that several hundred soldiers at Tauhcrenikau Camp failed to get Christmas leave which had been granted by the Defence authorities, owing to the failure of tho Railway Department to provide transport for thom. Tho railway authorities explained that the sudden call for transport came at a time when there was abnormal traffic owing to tho holiday season, as it was estimated that 7000 troops visited the city. Many had to sleep out.