THE N.Z. PRESS DELEGATES AT HOME.

Otago Witness, Issue 3383, 15 January 1919, Page 6

THE N.Z. PRESS DELEGATES AT HOME.

. "'•: THE Y.MC.A. The members of the delegation were prepared on their arrival in England to learn of good work accomplished by the Y.M.C.A. in its oare of New Zealand troops, not only in Great Britain, but in France and the other centres of the war operations. It required but little inquiry for them to realise how thorough, of what vast importance, that work has been, and continues'to'-be. It is quite impossible to give, in a short article such as this must be, anything like an adequate idea of the great services the Y.M.C.A. has rendered to cur troops during the period. of the war. The ramifications of the Y.M.C.A. work arc so wide, the centres and branches at which it is carried on 60 numerous, that any attempt to set out in detail its special features is quite out of the question. It is indeed not possible to give even a bare synopsis of the Red Triangle work in Great Britain, France, and Egypt, and an effort can only be made to supply in general terms, \\:th some aference to one or two leading features, a short analysis of the specially valuable services the association has rendered the Empire. It will also be understood that reference must be limited almost entirely to Y.M.C.A. work as it bears on the comfort and welfare of the New Zealand troops. The • executive headquarters of the New Zealand branch of the Y.M.C.A. for England and France are in London. Secretaries who arrive from the dominion report here, end are sent to the various New Zealand camps for fuller training, and they work at those camps until then* turn comes to proceed to France. The headquarters are in Gower street, not far from the British Museum, and they are in close proximity to the Shakespeare Hut, the centro of social life for the dominion troops. The word hut is, of course, entirely misleading, for it will convey to New Zealand readers who do not know any better not the faintest idea of the class •of building it is. It may best be described as a huge private hotel, with largo dining- room, sitting room, concert room, writing room, kitchen, and extensive sleeping accommodation. Perhaps the extent of the accommodation available will be more readily grasped if it is stated that, covering a recent period of 12 months, nearly half a million meals were served, and over 95,000 beds let. The press delegates had opportunities of judging, by personal inspection on several occasions, how well the "boys" are looked after at the Shakespeare Hut, and the happy atmosphere which pervades that comfortable home while thoy are in London. The master and matron are busy persons, as, indeed, is everyone who assists in the working of the establishment.

The press delegates visited the " hut" under the guidance of the general secretary, Mr G. W. W. B. Hughes, formerly of Dunedin, and of Mr W. 11. George, of Wellington, a staunch friend of the Y.M.C.A., who went to England to supervise for a time the expenditure of funds cent from the dominion. Much valuable information was given them concerning the working of the Shakespeare Hut and the general operations of the branch in Great Britain and France. _ They have pleasure in expressing the opinion that among the many centres of Y.M.C.A. activity for the

benefit of troops of the overseas dominions | none can be found with better provision for the material comfort and entertainment of | the men than the Shakespeare Hut, and none in which the solicitude of the management for their welfare can be excelled. This hut has probably done more to make up for the loss of home-life that our troops must necessarily experience during the time they spend in London than any # other agency, and it will be a satisfaction to many anxious parents in the dominion to know that this is so.

The largest training camp for New Zealand soldiers in England is that atSHng, on Salisbury Plain, and too much praise cannot be given to the Y.M.C.A. for the way in whioh it looks after the' men. The delegates paid Sling Camp a visit, and were shown over all its features. Among them the Red Triangle Hut stands out very prominently. The visitors were informed that this hut is generally admitted to be one of the finest in England, and from_ its appearance there is every reason to believe the statement to be justifiable. There are a number of voluntary lady workers, w.ho are in charge of Mrs Mylrea, of whom' we formed a very high opinion. She has proved a mother to the boys, and carries on a large correspondence with New Zealand mothers. At Codford, also on Salisbury Plain, men who have been discharged from hospital received special training before being transferred to Sling, from which latter camp they were sent to the front. At Codford the Y.M.C.A. has a largo hut, which provides the usual social and canteen facilities for tho men. The concert hall of the camp is large and seats about 800. Educational work is carried on at Codford in special quarters, and good results have been attained. The Y.M.C.A. engaged a special instructor in arts and crafts from the Kensington School of Arts, and he trains thj men in loadlight work, basket making, stained glass work, and kindred subjects. The largo New Zealand military hospitals at Walton-on-Thames and Brockenhurst and the convalescent camp at Hornchurch are extensive fields for Y.M.C.A. work. The Walton-on-Thames Hospital is divided into two sections, one called Mount Felix and the other Oatlands Park, and a very handsome brick building of the Y.M.C.A. lies the two. It is a club that is very popular with the patients, by whom it is largely used. At Brockenhurst Hospital, situated in Hampshire, on tho borders of the .New Forest, the New_ Zealand Y.M.C.A. renders valuable service to the troops and the hospital authorities. In addition to the usual social facilities, very extensive educational work is carried on, largely on the lines of curative treatment, but partly with tho view of equipping the men for a fresh start in life. At Hornchurch, tho New Zealand convalescent camp, the Y.M.C.A. have a very fine hut, which at the time of our visit was largely taken up by educational classes. Extensive additions to the hut were in progress at the cost of the Y.M.C.A. All the other facilities usually found in Y.M.C.A. hospital and camp life arc provided. It is at Hornchurch that the educational classes so wisely established for the benefit of our soldiers were probably found at their best. There were other camps where tho Y.M.C.A. was doing- meritorious work—notably at Torquay, the discharge depot for the N.Z.E.F.,—but it will be seen from this very sketchy account of its solicitude for the'welfare of the New Zealand troops how much tho dominion is indebted to it. If

anytbine further were wanted to show this, it is to be found in a letter addressed to the supervising secretary by General RichardBon, who is warm in his praise of the association's work. There could not be better testimony to the splendid results which have accrued 'from the Y.M.O.A.'s efforts on behalf of New Zealand's soldiers.

Space alone prevents adequate reference to other features of Y.M.C.A. work in England, such as the system'under which a soldier could hand in any sum of money to any of its branches in England or France, for which he was given a receipt that enabled him to draw any or all of his money, without notice, at _ headquarters in England, or. with his division, or at the base in France. If unable to call in person for it, h© could obtain it by mail. To show the popularity of this deposit system, it may he stated that at the end of Jun< of the year just ended the Now Zealand Y.M.O.A. in France were custodians of deposits to the value of over £BOOO, and that at Sling camp under this system our men deposited with the Y.M.C.A. in five months £8836, the withdrawals for the same period having been £5878. And if the association's work in England has been so meritorious and valuable, it has been no less so in France ai. 1 Egypt. Despite many difficulties in the way the Y.M.C.A. never failed to keep up with the New Zealand Division in the field in France; and the work it performed in Egypt and Palestine is too well known to require any further reference in this article. THE SALVATION ARMY. If the Y.M.C.A. has risen to the height of greatness in the splendid work it has done for the soldiers of the Allied forces, it may with truth be said that the Salvation Army in only lesser degree has earned their gratitude and their blessings. It, too, has carried out during the whole of the war a fine scheme of help for "Our soldiers, as well as performing for the unfortunates of the world the great services which have earned for it the respect and the gratitude of civilised peoples. The writer of these notes, during his short stay in London, was courteously invited by officers of the Army's headquarters staff to visit the administrative quarters, Queen Victoria street, and from there go by motor car on a tour of inspection of a number of the service hostels _ and other places where the Army carries on it 3 humanitarian work. An extensive list of visits had been mapped out, but from the first it was obvious that this would have to be greatly modified, and in the result, although several hours were devoted to the tour, not a fifth part of the ground could bo covered. On our arrival at the head offices it was a pleasant .surprise to find that an opportunity was to be afforded for a short talk with General Booth. He is an extremely busy man, but was greatly pleased to be able to converse with a New Zealand sympathiser about the Army's world-wide work in the cause of suffering humanity. The general spoke of the Army's earnest efforts to help the nation's soldiers in_ every way it possibly could, and special inquiry was made by him as to the success of the Army's work in New Zealand. I was able to assure him that the Salvation Army was held in high esteem in the dominion, where it commanded widespread respect and received generous practical help from tho people. General Booth asked me to convey, as a special message to the people of New Zealand, his profound gratitude for their support, and also his belief that never

in the history of the Salvation Army "were its ministrations in Great Britain and other countries more generously appreciated than they are at the present day. He added that Japan and China were at the present time fields that were having the Army a - special attention, and he looked forward to a continuance and yet wider extension oi the benefits the Army had, with Divine help, conferred on those who were in sore need of succour and comfort. t . In London this great organisation has established hostels for soldiers and other service men in 10 centres of pppulation. These afford accommodation for 2150 men, and in addition to them there are many hostels operating in the provinces, and extensive huts in many of the military camps. In the course of a long afternoons visit we inspected a number of the Arrnvs branches, all of them admirably conducted, and rendering a fine service to those whom misfortune has overtaken. But it is obvious that I cannot enlarge further on the social side of the Salvation Army's work. It is much too vast a subject to discuss in detail Nor with respect to work among the troops can I do more than generalise. But at least, as regards this work, should I say that it is a v very valuable kind? It is, of course, obvious to a visitor to London that the Y.M.C.A. holds a paramount position in the service it renders to the men of our forces (and in this connection I do not here refer to the Red Cross, which has its special field of activity), but the Salvation Army in many ways fills an appreciable gap. And not only does it do this in respect to its kindly solicitude for the welfare of our soldiers, but it has afforded help to the military authorities in many ways, such, for example, as the establishing of hostels and canteens for munition workers, _ and canteens for men employed in other national work. Two large places formerly fitted up as homes are now equipped as soldiers hostels, and are greatly appreciated by_ those soldiers who make their homes while m London. Standing out prominently among the Salvation Army huts in military camps is that at Codford. In the course of a visit there, the New Zealand press delegates had the pleasure of inspecting this feature of Codford camp life. It is in charge of Staff Captain Winton, formerly attached to the Salvation Army in Dunedin, who has'established himself as a great favourite with the boys, and is a power for good among them. He is indefatigable in his efforts to promote their comfort, and supply them with amusement. in the shape of concerts, etc., held in the large hall, which is usually filled with a cheerful crowd, sometimes numbeing as many as 700 or 800 men. < It need only be said,, in conclusion, that it is a pleasure tp the dominion's, press delegates to be able to testify to the valuable work the Salvation Army continues to do in Great Britain, among soldiers and the people alike. THE NEW ZEALAND WAR CONTINGENT.

The above-named body was inaugurated on the 14th August, 1914, the meeting being convened by the High Commissioner. The original object of the movement was to collect money to provide a convalescent home for the reception of New Zealand soldiers and to secure the co-operation of the ladies to make and provide clothing for the men. The Director-general of the Army and Medical Service did not, however, favour the scheme to provide a convalescent home, so the proposal was abandoned and efforts directed towards the establishment of a hospital at Walton-on-Thames. This was successfully launched, _ and it was managed by the association till early in 1916, when the New Zealand Medical Authorities of the New Zealand Defence Department took control. An executive and various sub-committees were appointed!. Ever since the men first arrived in the United Kingdom, the official visitors of the Visiting Committee have attended regularly at the bedside of patients, wherever they were located, and ministered to their comforts and necessities. The function of the New Zealand Club's Committee was to erect and maintain clubs (canteens) and places of social entertainment for the men. The committee opened canteens at Codford, Hornchurch, Oatlands, Brockenhurst, Torquay, and Ewshott. New Zealand ladies and their staff are in charge of each club. The factor is the biggest asset that the N.Z.W.C.A. possesses, as the influence of these sympathetic.. workers on the life of the boys has been priceless. The staff do their utmost to interest and entertain the boys, in which direction they have been very successful. The New Zealand Branch of the British Red Cross, recognising the efficient organisation of the New Zealand War Contingent Association, appointed, it as_ its agent and entrusted the association with the disposal of the clothing and comforts sent to them, and also riioney contributions. On the retirement of Lord Plunket from the chairmanship of the executive in July, 1917, Mr Raymond succeeded. Ho was also unanimously elected chairman of the Red Cross Committee. The affairs of the Red Cross were at once put on a new basis. The Southampton Depot was taken over from the military, Red Cross depots were opened at the various hospitals,

and quartermasters placed in Charge. Amnio stocks were kept on hand available for requisition by the O.C.'s of New Zealand hospitals, and schedules of comforts were agreed upon between the chairman of the Red Cross Committee and the Director of Medical Services. These arrangements ensured the smooth, economical, and effective running of this department. Last Julv the Red Cross representative from New Zealand took over tho work of the Comforts Committee, and tho disposal of Red Cross goods, and Colonel Rhodes became the chairman of tho committee. The N.Z.W.C.A. continues the management of all the nine clubs that were established, and also all departments connected with hospitality and entertainment for the sick and wounded, and also of fit men. A purchasing account was opened for th<j convenience of men in France. Orders sent to the office are executed, and the articles purchased on much more favourable terms than those on which the men could possibly obtain them. A cable code was also drawn up and kindly circulated by the press of the dominion, which enabled parents and others to obtain information regarding soldiers at a fully 50 per cent. redu_cti*n of ordinary cost, and with a promptness obtainable through no other channels. The New Zealand Soldiers' Club, Russell square, is a most useful adjunct of the association Three houses were taken over and fitted up to accommodate about 250 men. A large staff of lady workers (honorary) attends to the kitchen and to the waiting, a wholesome influence being thus exercised over the men; During the war, men arriving from the front on furlough were met by members of the committee.and taken direct from the station to the club. They walked out of their trench clothes into a bath, and they were provided with a clean rig-out, their regular outfit being returned when it had been cleaned and otherwise attended to. Tho club has reading, writing, and billiard rooms, and is always full to overflowing, thus evidencing its popularity. Visits that members of the New Zealand press delegation paid to the War Contingent Association's premises at High Holbora showed what a large amount of valuable work this body has done, and haw thoroughly in earnest and assiduous in the performance of their self-imposed duties the members of the executive are. The large room in which meals are served to New Zealand soldiers was well filled, and it was clearly manifest that the boys were enjoying themselves. The members of our ptirty were invited to partake..of tea before making a tour of inspection of the premises," and among the wholesome viand 3 on the table, it will not be out of place to mention, was one of the fruit cakes which are regularly sent in large numbers from-the dominion. In this particular instance, it will be of interest to the donor to know that the wrapper on the cake showed that it came, from Invercargill. We were received by several members of the executive of the War Contingent Association, tho full constitution of which is: Sir Thomas Mackenzie (chairman of the association), Mr I. W. Raymond (chairman of the executive), Countess of Hardwicke, Lady Islington, Lady Mills, Mesdames Empson, J. M. Ritchie, Warren, Wilson, Misses Helen Mackenzie, Ida Russell. Lord Plunket, Sir James Mills, General Richardson, Colonel R. Heaton Rhodes, Captain Donne, Messrs Acton Adams, Gilbert Anderson, J. B. Coates, Moss Davis, Charles Elgar, G-. F Gee E. M. Kennaway, R. M. Macdonald, E D. D. M'Lexn, C. O. M'Millan, R. H. Nolan, Ormerod, A. E. G. Rhodes, F. E. Rosher, G. H. Scholefield, S. Thomson, G. E Tolhurst, F. Waldegrave, A. F. Willimas, C. J. Wray. .-.;■.,. J Our old New Zealand friends showed us over the extensive premises the association occupies, and on our inspection of a storeroom on the ground floor of the building we realised what an amount of organisation and skill and solid work must be required to keep track-of the enormous quantity of goods that are received and despatched from the store for distribution to the boys of the New Zealand Division. These old colonists of the dominion are. in conjunction with the Red Cross, doing their full share of the war work that has fallen to the lot of every man and woman of our race who feels his or her obligation to help with the common burden. As mention has been made of the Red Cross in connection with the War Contingent Association's work, it may here be said that Sir Thomas Mackenzie is also chairman of the former, and that he and Miss Helen Mackenzie, who is secretary, are among the steady workers ol the body, of which they are the V?™ 01 ?* 1 executive officers. It is a body which has had an important duty in seeing to the careful expenditure of the large amount ot money sent to England by the Red Cross in New Zealand for the benefit of the dominion's soldiers. • ~ _v Of the New Zealand War Contingent Association, the press delegates need only further say that it was a great pleasure to them to meet the executive officers of a body which has from the very inception of the war until now contributed so much to the comfort of the dominion's troops. They have all the time been animated by a fine spirit of duty—duty which became an infinite pleasure as it was more and more recognised how much was due to the men who had come from the counting house and the factory and their work on the land ol their distant home to fight the nations battles, and to help in crushing for ever the pretensions and arrogance of an enemy; which hi its lust for power sought to dominate the earth.