FOR THE WOUNDED

Otago Witness, Issue 3313, 12 September 1917, Page 25

FOR THE WOUNDED

NEW ZEALAND WAR CONTINGENT ASSOCIATION. (By a Special Correspondent.) LONDON, June 29. The New Zealand War Contingent Association is constantly receiving requests from units and training camps for grants for the social welfare of men who are fit. _At its last meeting two such applications in particular came forward —one for a grant to the sports fund at the Command Depot at Codford and another for a grant towards a regimental band at a training depot. _ As a general rule the funds of the association are ear-marked for the benefit of sick and wounded, and such applications as these can only bo entertained if there is money on band not so ear-marked. This v/as the case as regards the sports fund, to which £SO was granted, but the regimental band did not appear to Brigadier-general G. S. Richardson to be an essential object, and as funds which are available for fit men are verv limited, the application could not be granted. The opinion has been_ expressed over and over again at the association that a great deal of money should be availablo for the social welfare of fit men. Under the present arrangement the man who la fortunate enough to go through the whole campaign without being wounded at all might be entirely disqualified from receiving any of the entertainment whioh is provided so liberally for wounded and convalescent. WOUNDED IN ENGLAND. The number of New Zealanders in hospital in England at the end of May wa3, roughly, 3000, of whom 200 were in British hospitals and the balance in New Zealand military hospitals. Since then, of course, the casualties resulting from the capture of Messines, which fortunately have been small, compared with the obiect achieved, .'have r-dded considerably to the number. '; ' RAILWAY BUFFETS. New Zealand Boldiers are very well provided for in respect to buffets and canteens at all their camps-and hospitals, and this expense falls entirely on funds raised in New Zealand and sent to the New Zealand War Contingent Association and the Y.M.C.A. Generally speaking, although the charges are very low, the canteens are more or less selfsupporting, but there has lately been a considerable falling off, owing partly to the reduced number of men in hospitals and camps, and partly to the food restrictions. New Zealand soldiers travelling from T.oint to point in England are invariably fed at free, or almost fiee, buffets at railway stations and other rendezvous. Most of these are run by voluntary effort out of funds subscribed by the British public and different organisations, but oversea soldiers enjoy benefits on equal terms with British. It has been the policy of th<s No-" Zealand War Contingent Association, whenever an application is made on behalf of one of thcee buffets, to ascertain definitely to what extent the institution is made use of by New Zealand soldiers, and to make a small money grant accordingly. It 's felt that where our men are regularly receiving benefits from institutions oi this kind, the New Zealand public would naturally wish to recognise the fact in this way. SOLDIERS' CLUBS. The value of soldiers' clubs in New Zealand is somewhat less than it is in England, for tho double reason that in England tho men arc away from homo and their own people, and that the climate, in the winter, is so much more inclement. This has been fully recognised both oy the War Office and by tho General Officer Commanding in tho United Kingdom (General Richardson); and tho Clubs Committee of the New Zealand War Contingent Association ha* had every encouragement in this branch of its activities. Tho committee, which was at first under the chairmanship of Mr J. C. N. Grigg (Longbcach), and is now under Mr R. M. Macdonald (Christchurch), has erected suitable clubs at all of the principal camps and hospitals where New Zealand soldiers aro stationed. This has been a very considerable undertaking, involving an expenditure on buildings of more than £IO,OOO altogether, inclusive of equipment. The principal item of expenditure was at tho convalescent camp at Hornchurch, where, obviously, special measures were necessary. Alongside of the War Contingent Association are the Y.M.C.A. clubs, so that altogether the New Zealand soldiers are very well looked after. The capital expenditure, averaged over all the men who have used and will use the clubs, is a very modest charge in view of tho social advantages they receive. A certain amount of it moreover will be recouped at tho end of the war by the sale of the club buildings and equipment. THEATRE TICKETS. During the last 10 months the managers of London theatres have placed more than 10,000 free tickets .at the disposal of the Now Zealand War Contingent Association for the benefit of Now Zealand soldiers. Last month 789 tickets for performances were distributed by the association to wounded men, and only 48 of these were purchased, at a cost of £3 lis. The executive, at its last meeting, passed a resolution acknowledging the generosity of the manager

TRAINING DISABLED MEN. At the suggestion of Brigadier-general Richardson, the Now Zealand War Contingent Association is going ahead with a scheme for the training of men who arc disabled find who are concentrated at Oatlands Hospital awaiting equipment with artificial limbs. As a measure of preparation for the industrial war after peace, France and Belgium have thrown themslves vigorously into such training, and the results achieved have been so remarkable that South Africa and Canada have followed their example. When the matter was first mooted to the Now Zealand soldiers there was a certain amount of very natural misgiving as to the way in which the training would affect the granting of pensions. Seme of them feared that if at this stage they learned trades which would enable them to supplement their incomes, the scale of pension which they would bo granted would bo reduced accordingly. After several discussions, however, and the assurance that they would not be penalised in this way, they took a more friendly attitude, and it is now expected to start the workshops with 40 men, who have formed their own local committee with ohairma« and secretary. Equipment in instructors will be provided for the purpose of teaching shorthand, typewriting, bookkeeping, saddlery, carpentry, bootmaking, etc., and electrical switchboard work. It is General Richardson's idea that men who wish for a thorough training in mechanical motor work, electricity, etc., shall be attached to well-known works in the Midlands, where they will get a proper experience and grounding. This should be easily possible now while British industries are so busily employed, and the great advantage of instructing men before the war ends will be that they will be ready for civil life the moment they are demobilised.