FOR THE WOUNDED.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15989, 25 August 1917, Page 6

FOR THE WOUNDED.

NEW ZEALAND WAR CONTINGENT ASSOCIATION. (rr.ou a srEf i.M. >-or respondent.) r.ON"DON'. Juno 20. The Now Zor.Jantl War Contingent Associiition i- ron.staiii.iv receiving requoM.- from unit:, arid training (ramps tor grant* for th*» safial r.-rlr'aro oj men tit. At its last meeting two s-.ini applications in particular carao forward, one ;Vir a grant to the Sports Fund at the- Command Drpor at Codiord. anj anotlior ior a j:rar<t towards a. rpgiinent:tl b.*ind at a training dopot. As a conors I rule the i'tna> of the Association arc carniarjcrd lor the benefit of sick and wounded, and su~h applications a* liiwo can omy bo entertained if tb-crc is money on hnnu not so earmarked. This was the case as regards the Spins Fund, to which £'o0 was granted, hut the regimental hand did not appear 10 tir'.gadicr-Gcneral (!. >. JJichardson to an rfsontial object, and as funds which are available for fit n.cn are ver v limited, the application could not he •rranted. Jhe opinion has been expressed over and over again at tiie Association that- a .;Teafc doal of money should be available for the social welfare of fit men. Under the present, arrangement the man who is fortimate enough to go through v.'hole ci'.rvipaign without being"woundo-l at all might bo entirely aisq'Ta'iified from receiving any of the entertainment which is provided so liberally for wounded and convalescent. AVOUNDEI> IN ENGLAND. The number of New Zealanders in hospital in England at the end of May -was, roughly. MtHith of .whom 200 were in British hospitals, and the balancc in New Zealand military hospitals. Since then, of course, the casualties resulting from the capture, of Messin.es, which fortunately have been small compared with the object achieved, have, added considerably to the numbers. 11 AIIAVAY BUFFETS. New Zealand soldiers are very well provided for in respect tonibulfcis and canteens at all tho:r camps and hospitals, and this "expense falls entirely on funds raised in Nc-,v Zealand and sent to the New Zealand War Contingent Association, and the "N .M.C.AGenerally speauirig. although the char"es are vc r v low, the canteens are more" 1 or less self-supporting, but there has lat'.ib" been a considerable fallmgoff, owing partly 16 he: reduced munber of men in hospitals and'camps, ancl partlv to the 'food restrictions. New Zealand soldiers travelling from point to point in England are invariably fed at free, «y almost free, buffets at railway stations and other rendezvous. Most of theso are run bv voluntary effort out of funds subscribed by tho British public an different organisations, but oversea soldiers enjoy benefits on equal terms with British. It has beon the policy ot the New Zealand War Contingent Association, whenever an application is made on bolialf of one of these buffets, t(j ascertain definitely to what extent tlm institution is made use of by New Zealand soldiers, and to make :» small money grant accordingly. ..It is felt that 'where our men are regularly receiving benefits from institutions of this kind, the New. Zealand public would naturally wish, to recognise the fact in this way.

SOLDIERS' CLUBS. ■ The value of soldier?/ clubs in New Zealand is somewhat less than.it :s in England, for the double reason that.the men are away from home and their/own people, and that the climate, in the winter, is so much- tiiorc inclement. This has been fully recognised both by tho "War Offieo sirid by the G.O.C. in the United Kingdom (General Richardson) : and the Clubs Committee of tho New Zealand "War Contingent Association has had every encouragement, in this branch of its activities. The committee, which was at first under the chairmanship of Mr J. 0. X. Grigg (Longbeach), and is now under Mr B. M. Macdonald ("Christchurch), has erected suitable, clubs at all of the principal camps and hospitals where New Zealand soldiers are stationed. This has been a very considerable undertaking, involving an expenditure on buildings of more than £10,000 altogether, inclusive of equipment. Tho principal itom of expenditure was at the convalescent camp-at Hornchurch, where, obviously, special measures were necossary. 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. Tho capital expenditure, averaged over all the men who have used, and will use, the clubs, is a very_ modest, charge in view of the social advantages they receive. A certain amount of it', moreover, will be recouped at the end of tho war by the sale of the club buildings and equipment. THEATRE TICKETS. During the last ten months tho managers of London theatres have placed more than 10,000 free tickets-at the disposal of the New Zealand War Contingent, Association for the benefit of New- Zealand soldiers. Last month 789 tickets for performances were distributed by the Association to wounded men, and only <18 of these were purchased. at a cost of £3 lis. The executive, at its last meeting, passed a resolution acknowledging the generositv cr the managers. , . " TRAINING DISABLED MEN. At the suggestion of Brigadier-Gen- ? i it- t-tiehardson, tho New Zealand \\ ar Contingent Association is going ahead with a scheme for the training of men who aro .disabled, and who are concentrated at Oat lands Hospital awaiting equipment with artificial limbs, as a measure of preparation for .the industrial war after peaco, rrancfo and Belgium have thrown themselves vigorously into such training, and the results achieved, have been io remarkable that South Africa and Canada have followed their example. When the matter was first mooted to the New 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. Some of them feared that if at this stage they learned trades which would enable tnem to supplement their inconics the scale of pension which they would be. granted would be reduced accordingly. After- 6everal 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, forty men, who have formed their, own local committee with chairman and secretary. Equipment and instructors will be provided for the purpose of teaching shorthand, type-writing, book-keeping, 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 Jlidlands where they will get a proper j experience and grounding. This should be easily possible now while British inj dustries 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 tie moment they are demobilised.