CONDITIONS IN ENGLAND.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 15044, 11 April 1919, Page 3

CONDITIONS IN ENGLAND.

FAREWELLING THE "DIGGERS."

JLETTER FROM A PAEfiBE.

iM^AWpa'dre^^ (MrV^iWi^Sn^ laccounft of Jthe c'ondjftions iin^iaglana 4^ tneyCexistMat the end-pf July :^>:;: v? >!#■ montK ", this ; been^the^. whole world ie/simply: upside down^S^He strikes h^ a^^eyea-;;in to-day's: issue Mr tloyd jGebyge isappeiiling t6 : the strikers to''be reasdnable; He admits there are^: wrongs on fbQth sides. Blood has been shied as a result of lighting in the streets ': of Glasgo%,, and Belfast and in both cities the soldiers had to be called, out; It appears the workers ask for a 47 hour week, stating if that does,not, suit them they, have decided to come out for an6ther recluctibn ,of 7 hours per ..week, making a \yorking week, of 40 hour;^ with the same rate of pajj. Tlie motor men on ithe London, tubes struck, because they-had no :meal hour. The accounts of through . this strike ; were cruel. The Government sent their big motor lorries to carry the passengers—, a very novel experience to IJondone)'. The engineers are still out'and it is holding up our "boats for New Zealand. An appeal has been, fruitless up to . the | present ,\but we still hope reason will ;prevail.r-: ••:;';■..,'■■■ ••■ ', ":; ..' ; :.: .. '/'.''.■'-'■■ Many , have made fortunes over the war,'and the thought of going back to pre-\var -rates truly hurts them. ( ' , F^r'the last fortnight the weather has been'"-.fine,"sut the frosts have been terrible. I never experienced anything like it before.. For the first time in-24 years Loch Lomond has been frozen over and steamers were frozen in, mails being carried by traps. Every now and tf0 n 3 fou hear a whistling sound—the fisQ|t' has br.oken a pipe and water is flying in nil directions. For hours the hospital this week could not secure water owing to'the p:pes being frozen, so the patients could not wash. . In our huts the;6re buckets had a thickness of ice to the depth of three inches v We4iave no reason to complain of shortage of coal, but the citizens are having a bad time. Schools have been closed down in Birmingham and hundreds of the poorer class at Aldershot have not had coal for a week. The-supply is quite inadequate. The food supply is still rationed. In April- ;when the New Zealand butter is available, it is expected that each consumer will be able to secure two ounces more per week.. General Richardson called at Codford for half an hour and.gave a speech to the diggers. As soon as I announced that he was in the hall, very hearty was the reception. No doubt he has done a lot for the menj and has their confidence.

I have seen four boats away this month—two at Tilbury Docks and two at Liverpool. The boys were so happy, each receiving before leaving writing material, handkerchief, cake of soap, and a lemon to drive "away any unpleasant feeling Hhe first'day out. Oh! what a rush.to see Bto 11,000 men had received his share—a padre job. After leaving the Liverpool Quay I sent wires and cables for the boys to the amount of £29 30s. The postal officials don't Tike the job. I find such pleasure mitas it is for my diggers. While the boys stood on the ships Ajana and Athenic I beat time while they sang "Abide with me" and "Lead Kindly Light," it was a sacred moment, then they, called for a speech. The Tboys receive a nice letter from'the King and Queen as they step on the boat,- which reads as follows:— Buckingham Palace. Ihe Queen and I wish you God speed and a safe return to your home and dear ones, A grateful Mother Country is proud of your splendid service characterised by unsurpassed devotion and courage. ■"' *!" ' ' -George. R.I. buen are memories that will ever he pleasant. I spent 4 nights in the tram in eight days and the balance of time was spent in my two hospitals, so you can see one is kept busy. The boys; leave me notes to secure their parcels from P.O. About 12 bags have - been received and are opened by my sergeant and myself. All messages are taken out and sent back to New, Zealand, with a nice, letter enclosed and the parcels go the boys in Hue. The fourth lot has been delivered in the fortnight and they do appreciate same. This month two local concerts haye1 been arranged for hospital patients, and at the end of programme a nice cup of tea, a cake, sandwich and scone given to each. It is a pleasure to see how it is appreciated by the I was greatly cheered by a letter received from Commandant Middlemiss intimating the fact that the Sunday school scholars (or juniors as we call them) of the Christchurch Corps, New Zealand, instead of having their annual picnic they sent me their money to spend on the hospital boys. I shall see their wish is fulfilled. . What an act of self-denial.