NEW ZEALAND WAR CONTINGENT ASSOCIATION, LONDON (NOTE OF PROCEEDINGS ON OCCASION OF THE VISIT OF RIGHT HON. W. F. MASSEY AND RIGHT HON. SIR J. G. WARD TO THE OFFICES OF THE).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1917 Session I, H-40

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1917 NEW ZEALAND.

NEW ZEALAND WAR CONTINGENT ASSOCIATION, LONDON (NOTE OF PROCEEDINGS ON OCCASION OF THE VISIT OF RIGHT HON. W. F. MASSEY AND RIGHT HON. SIR J. G. WARD TO THE OFFICES OF THE).

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives by Leave.

NEW ZEALAND WAR CONTINGENT ASSOCIATION, 125 High Holborn, London W.C. CHAIRMAN. The Hon. Sir Thomas Mackenzie, K.C.M.G. (High Commissioner for Now Zealand). LIST OP EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The .Right Hon. Lord Plunket, Chairman. I Lady Mills, Otago. Mr. Gilbert Anderson, Canterbury. Sir Jambs Mills, Otago. Mr. W. Acton-Adams, Canterbury. Mr. R. H. Nolan, Taranaki. Mr. J. B. Coates, Wellington. Mr. 0. C. Ormerod, Poverty Bay. Mr. Moss Davis, Auckland. Mr. I. W. Raymond, Southland. Captain T. E. Donne, Wellington. Mr. A. E. Rhodes, Canterbury. Mr. Chables Elgar, Wairarapa. Brigadior-Gonoral Rtchardson, C.M.G. Mrs. Emfson, Wanganui. Mrs. J. M. Ritchie, Otago. Mr. 0. F. Gee, Wellington. Mr. P. E. Rosher (representing the Victoria League). Mr. J. C. Grigg, Canterbury. Miss Ida Russell, Palmerston North. The Countess of Hardwicke, Auckland. Mr. G. H. Scholefield, Wellington. Mr. E. B. Hoabe (representing the Victoria Loague). Mr. J. SiNCLAUt Thomson, Canterbury. Lady Islington. Mr. G. E. Toliiurst, Wellington. Miss Helen Mackenzie, Otago. Mrs. Warren, Hawko's Bay. Tho Hon. Sir Thomas Mackenzie, Otago. Mrs. Edward A. Wilson. Mr. 0. 0. McMillan, Auckland. Mr. C. J. Wray, Wanganui. Mr. R. D. D. McLean, Hawke's Bay. Mr. F. Waldegrave, Wellington, Hon. Socrotary. HOSPITALITY COMMITTEE. Mr. 1. W. Raymond, Chairman; Miss H. Mackenzie, Hon. Socrotary. Visiting .Sub-Committee. —Mr. I. W. Raymond Chairman. Entertainment Sub-Committee. —Tho Countess of Hardwicke, Chairman. FINANCE COMMITTEE. Sir James Mills, Chairman ; Mr. James Coates, Vice-Chairman; Mr. E. M. Kennaway, Hon. Socrotary. N.Z.E.P. CLUBS COMMITTEE. Mr. Grigg, Chairman. Convalescent Home for N.Z. Officers, Brighton. —Miss Reynolds, Matron. N.Z. Military Nurses' Rest Home, Sandwich, Kent. —Miss Tombe, R.R.C., Matron. N.Z. Soldiers' Club-rooms at —11 Southampton Row W.C. ; Salisbury ; Codford Camp; Hornehureh Camp; Brockonhurst Hospital; Walton Hospital; Oatlands Park (all worked by N.Z. Honorary Staff). N.Z. Soldiers' Residential Club (200 beds), 17 Russell Square W.C. —Mr. A. E. Russell, Palmerston North, Chairman ; Mr. R. H. Nolan, Hawera, Hon. Secretary.

NOTE OF PROCEEDINGS On the Occasion of the Visit of the Right Hon. W. F. Massey, P.C., and the Right Hon. Sir Joseph G. Ward, Bart., P.C., K.C.M.G., to the Offices of the Association at 125 High Holborn, London W.C, on the 13th November, 1916. Lord Plunket said, — Mr. Massey, on behalf .of the Executive Committee of the New Zealand War Contingent Association I bid you and Sir Joseph Ward welcome, and thank you heartily for having given up some of your heavily taxed time to meet us here to-day. I need scarcely say that we count it a great privilege and a special piece of good fortune for the association that the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister of the Dominion should see and hear for themselves what we are doing, and consequently be in a position to report to their Government and the people of New Zealand their first-hand impression of our work.

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Our association was founded in August, 1914, shortly after the declaration of war, with the object of affording assistance to and extra comforts for the members of the New Zealand Contingents whilst in this country and abroad. Our first important work was the creation of the New Zealand Hospital at Walton, the cost of which was borne by the association, by sums from Lord Liverpool's Fund, by contributions from the New Zealand Government, and by a subsidy, per patient, from the British War Office. It was the only New Zealand hospital in this country all through that time of stress when we were looking after four thousand to five thousand wounded New Zealand soldiers who were arriving from the Dardanelles. Although its modest dimensions prevented our receiving a tithe of them within its walls, it was most valuable as a little corner of New Zealand to which could be transferred those patients in other hospitals who were suffering (call it by what medical name you like) from loneliness, and longing to be amongst their own people. By degrees Walton Hospital grew in size, and obtained the highest commendations from the Headquarters of the Medical Command at the Horse Guards; and finally when—at the desire of the New Zealand Government and the New Zealand Military Headquarters in London—we handed it over we passed on an institution which, whether considered from the point of proper efficiency or due economy, we believe any society might be entitled to remember with pride. Now as to the work still in our hands. The Executive Committee has entrusted the detail working of our different spheres of activity to various sub-committees, who submit a report of their work monthly to the parent body. First probably in importance is the Hospitality Committee, with its two branches, Visiting and Entertainment. The Visiting Committee have charge of all the sick and wounded in hospitals or convalescent homes and camps. As the wounded arrive in hospital in this country the New Zealand Military Headquarters report to us the names and the hospital to which they have been sent. The Visiting Committee pass on this information to their local visitors, or, where they have no local visitors, send out a visitor from this office. The patient is visited, and a report upon his condition forwarded here with a statement as to what minor comforts he stands in need of. The ladies in charge of the packing-room (which 1 hope you will look in upon) make up the required parcel and send it to the visitor, who takes it to the man. The sort of parcel generally sent consists of cigarettes or tobacco, stamps, stationery, New Zealand illustrated papers, razor and shaving-kit, and change of under-garments. Where the visitor, after consultation with the ward sister, thinks any special food diet not supplied by the hospital would be of advantage to a patient, this is also provided. These ladies also arrange to send cables to New Zealand for the men; they write letters for those unable to write themselves; and they make little purchases for them when asked to do so, the cost of these latter being deducted from the man's pay. We have at present upwards of 170 official honorary visitors, the large majority of them being either New-Zealanders or closely connected with the Dominion; and the fact, that probably the first, visit a lonely New-Zealander receives in hospital in England is from one of his own countrywomen is, I need hardly tell you, specially appreciated. The hospitals the men are in are scattered all over the United Kingdom— Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Dublin, Belfast, Cardiff, Leeds, Manchester, Isle of Wight (to name only a few) —and the average of visits paid is two a week. The patient's condition, what he has been supplied with, the number of visits paid, are all methodically entered, and if you will pay a visit to our card-indexing room and ask for the latest account of any man you happen to know to be in hospital and in whom you are interested, I think the value and the thoroughness of the work will be manifest to you. When the patient leaves hospital, or when he is well enough to get out for a few hours, he comes into contact with the Entertainment Committee. They arrange little treats for him—little varieties from the dullness and depression of hospital life. They engage char-a-bancs or motor-buses to bring him from his hospital (if in or near London) to our club-room here, where he is given tea, and meets other New-Zealanders, and sees all the papers, and generally gets a little variety. They also provide conveyances when New-Zealanders are invited out to tea or lunch by kind hosts living near hospitals in the country districts. At an earlier period in our history much of this transport was provided by local well-wishers, but since chauffeurs have been called up to serve in the Army, and the supply of petrol to private persons reduced to the smallest limit, this form of assistance has ceased, and if the association did not provide transport our men could not enjoy any hospitality. The Entertainment Committee also arrange concerts in the hospitals—quite a big feature in their work. They obtain (mainly free) tickets for theatres and concerts in London for the men. They have lists of hospitality for officers and men offered all over the country, and put them in touch with these kind friends, with the result that numbers of New-Zealanders have enjoyed their leave in historic houses, have had shooting, fishing, and riding given them, and have found themselves amidst, a family life where they have been made to feel absolutely at home. Before leaving this brief account of the visiting and hospitality work I should like to emphasize that it, is no new development, and that just as we are providing it to-day for some five thousand of our gallant men after their splendid services in France, we were doing it just as thoroughly a year ago for five thousand of those who had fought and bled at Gallipoli. I now turn to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force Clubs Committee. The germ of this work was the Recreation Hut at Walton, run by the association when that hospital was under our control, but now, consequent upon lack of room, converted into a ward. The association has a recreation-room in these offices, at the Residential Club House in Russell Square, at Salisbury, and at Codford; and others are building and will be shortly opened at Hornchurch, Brockenhurst, and Walton. This form of assistance to soldiers is, of course, a very common one, and is carried out successfully by the V.M.C.A., the Salvation Army, the Church Army, and several other bodies. We confine our activities in this direction to looking after our own men in those places where we have the direct approval and encouragement of the New Zealand military authorities. We run them on thoroughly New Zealand lines —New Zealand ladies in charge, New Zealand cooking, New

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Zealand papers and periodicals on the tables, and the whole organization of the association behind them. We cut prices down to the lowest figure, but once the initial cost has been paid they are self-supporting—and this in spite of the fact that New Zealand men in hospital blue (many of whom are allowed no money at all) can have their tea for nothing if they do not possess the necessary pennies to pay for it. A special word of praise is due, I think, to the lady workers in these clubs. They have long hours standing on their feet and much manual labour. As to the value of this work, both towards the men's progress in health and for their enjoyment, I would confidently refer you to both the officers and the patients at Codford Camp, where the accommodation is so taxed that we are in process of enlarging. You have visited the Residential Club in Russell Square. It is, as you are aware, not under the control of the executive, being an independent branch of the association, but it would not be proper to omit a brief reference to its good work. Since its opening on the 2nd August it has provided about sixteen thousand of our men home on furlough or discharged from hospitals with decent accommodation and a New Zealand welcome. I will only recall to your memory that one of its most valuable features is that it arranges to depute some New-Zealander from the club to meet the "leave trains" and shepherd our men safely to the club, thus saving them from the serious initial dangers men arriving on furlough are exposed to the moment they step into the streets of London. Tho Stores Committee, a sub-committee recently formed, deals with consignments of hospital requirements and comforts for men which arrive from New Zealand branches of the Red Cross and St. John Ambulance, and which these societies asked us to receive and distribute. Lady Liverpool's Fund, which sends a monthly parcel for every man at the front, also employs us as its agents. In accepting this fresh responsibility we took a considerable load upon our shoulders, for the New Zealand Red Cross alone has already sent us 736 cases to distribute, whilst a regular supply is on the way Home. We confidently believe the goods are being distributed in a manner which will satisfy both the donors and the recipients, and a register is kept here which shows the numbers of cases received and their disposal. I must now say a few words upon another committee—in one sense the most important of all. The Finance Committee has much arduous and anxious work to do. Financial estimates and arrangements are, as Sir Joseph Ward and you must know full well, particularly difficult to deal with in war-time, with no steady standard of prices to depend upon and with constant emergencies—impossible to foretell—presenting themselves. I will not weary you with figures. Our accounts are, as you are aware, audited, and a monthly statement goes out to the New Zealand Government. But 1 may say that, excluding the hospital at Walton, we have expended since our foundation in August, 1914, to the 30th September last a sum of £20;680. The administrative expenses, including rent, salaries and wages, printing and stationery, postages and sundries, during that period came to £2,804. As regards salaries, I may say that at the present time our salary and wages list comes to only £400 a year, which includes typists, messengers, office boys, storemen, and a book-keeper, who enters upon his duties to-day, and who has been engaged because our operations have grown to such magnitude that we can no longer depend upon voluntary labour for the keeping of our accounts. We have now only two more branches of our work to put before you. The first is the New Zealand Officers' Convalescent Home at Brighton. This is a charming house situated in the best yet quietest part of the Brighton front, and accommodates from twelve to fifteen patients. It has a trained matron in charge, an excellent doctor in attendance, massage, electric treatment, &c. Since its opening between one hundred and fifty and one hundred and sixty New Zealand officers have enjoyed its hospitality; and the splendid air, the skilled attendance, and the excellent, fare provided have done much to accelerate the recovery of its guests. Only officers recommended by Colonel I'arkes, D.D.M.S., as suitable patients are accepted by us, so the work is directly of real advantage to the military authorities. This home and these comforts we owe entirely to Mr. C. A. Knight, a good friend to New Zealand, who may well receive your thanks as he does those of this association. Not only is practically the whole expense borne by him. but both he and Mrs. Knight are indefatigable in their attention to and their care for the comfort and the welfare of their guests. I may mention that Lieutenant Tom Seddon, a member of the House of Representatives, has just returned from what he has assured me was a most agreeable stay there, and one which greatly helped his recovery. Lastly, we have a delightful house at Sandwich, lent us by the generosity -of Major Waldorf Astor, M.P., where those New Zealand nurses whose health has suffered through their self-sacrificing services for our sick and wounded can rest and recuperate. This rest home is in charge of Miss Tombe, R.R.C., formerly our matron at Walton, who is, with other volunteers, working without reward for our common objects. Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward, I have now endeavoured as briefly as I could to give you some idea of the method and scope of our work. That is all we as an executive desire to-day to bring before you. You are in the happy and, I imagine, unusual position of not having to ward off applications upon the public purse. Thanks to subscriptions received in this country and from individual persons in New Zealand, thanks to the contribution of ,£1,500 a month from the Patriotic Associations of New Zealand and to the assistance we are receiving from the Red Cross Society out there, we find we can, by careful management, pay our way. There are matters regarding the control exercised by the New Zealand Government upon our funds and our activities which we desire to put before you, but these can wait a more suitable occasion. In the name of the executive and its sub-committees, and on behalf of our four hundred voluntary helpers, I thank you and Sir Joseph Ward again for your attention and for your presence here to-day; and, in conclusion, I would point out that I have endeavoured as far as I could to avoid mentioning names in these remarks, for if I once began to try to acknowledge individual services I should have felt compelled to trespass to an unfair extent upon your valuable time. Sir Thomas Mackenzie, High Commissioner for New Zealand, said, —I desire, as chairman of the New Zealand War Contingent Association, to extend to the Right Hon. W. F. Massey, P.C.,

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and the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, P.C., the heartiest of welcomes. When, immediately after the outbreak of war, I called together the New-Zealanders in London for the purpose of forming an association, a policy was then laid down which has been, in the main, steadily maintained. The intention was that we should keep in touch with every sick and wounded soldier arriving in this country, to help them in various ways, and, speaking personally, to keep in touch with their relatives overseas. It can be seen from what has been enumerated that we have faithfully carried out the work we set ourselves to do. By your presence with us to-day you obtain, as it were, the atmosphere of our undertakings, and you. come into contact with all that we are doing and endeavouring to do. As to the remark that names have not been mentioned—and I still speak as chairman of the association—l think it is only right and proper that the names of the chairmen and secretaries of the different committees which have been doing such splendid work should be given. As there is a good deal to be seen about the building I will not delay you further, but will conclude by again extending the heartiest welcome and expressing our good wishes to you both. Mr. Massey, who was loudly applauded, expressed his great pleasure at meeting so many New Zealand friends, and said that he felt as much at home as if he were addressing an audience in New Zealand. He had come to London to deal with many important affairs, some of which were not yet completed, but, which he hoped would be completed before his departure; but he had always determined, no matter how pressing the claims of public business might be, to find time to visit the Executive Committee of the New Zealand War Contingent Association. He was well aware of the value and importance of the work it was engaged upon. He had seen a large number of New Zealand soldiers both here and in France, and he had heard on all sides nothing but praise for the assistance that had been given so freely and ungrudgingly by the members of the association. He complimented the chairman on the account he had given, of the association's activities, and said he would like to see Lord Plunket's speech printed and circulated in New Zealand, or, if the finances of the association would not justify the printing, he suggested that he should be furnished with a copy, which he undertook to lay on the table of the House of Representatives, and so secure its publication as a parliamentary paper. In that way a record would be kept of the work done by the New Zealand War Contingent Association during the present very serious crisis. He thought that the people of New Zealand, through Parliament, would be ready to recognize the work of the association. He concluded by thanking those present for their cordial reception, and said that since their arrival in England he and Sir Joseph Ward had received nothing but kindness and consideration. Sir Joseph Ward, who was also warmly received, said that he was very pleased to be present and to meet the members of the Executive Committee. He endorsed the appreciative remarks made by Mr. Massey regarding the work of the association, and thanked the committee and the numerous workers who had devoted themselves to ameliorating the sufferings of sick and wounded New-Zealanders. He felt sure that what had been done in. this respect was recognized in the Dominion, and would receive further recognition as the particulars of their work became more widely known. He was one of those who was forced to the conclusion that the war would not terminate shortly, and his recent visit to France confirmed that belief. If this were right, it meant that, unfortunately, the activities of the association would not cease for some considerable time. He was impressed by the figures quoted by Lord Plunket regarding the ratio of administrative expenses compared with the gross expenditure, while the salary and wages expenditure was extremely moderate; in fact, the administration generally was a great credit to those concerned. He was sure that the association would carry on the good work it was doing as long as the necessity lasted, and he felt that the Parliament and Government of New Zealand would see that the association was not stinted for the necessary funds.

Copy of Letter from Brigadier-General Richardson, C.M.G., Officer Commanding N.Z. Troops in England, to the New Zealand War Contingent Association. Headquarters, N.Z. Expeditionary Force, U.K., 8 Southampton Row, London, 21st December, 1916. The Secretary, N.Z. War Contingent Association. I would like to express my gratitude to the War Contingent Association for their kindness to the N.Z.E.F. in England during the past year. We all recognize how strenuous have been the efforts of the members of the association to help our men. These efforts have not been in vain. You have afforded pleasure to thousands of New Zealand boys. Your work cannot be recognized by honours and rewards, but it may afford you satisfaction in the knowledge that your work is appreciated not only by the military authorities, but by the men themselves and by their relatives. You have filled a gap which military organization does not provide for, and you have done so with great success. My best wishes and the wishes of officers and men of the N.Z.E.F. are extended to the War Contingent Association for a happy Christmas and a happy New Year. Yours sincerely, Geo. S. Richardson, Brigadier-General.

Approximate Cost of Paper.- Preparation, not given ; printing (800 copies), £_.

Authority : Marcus F. Marks, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9l7.

Price 3d.]