IN "THE POTTERIES''

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2310, 18 November 1914, Page 7

IN "THE POTTERIES''

BIG INDUSTRY AFFECTED

EXPERIENCES OF A VICAR

Among the passengers to' arrive from England ■ by the Turakina on Monday evening \yas the Rev. Otho Fitzgerald, vicar of Avonsido, Cbristchurch, and formerly of St. Thomas's, Wellington. Mr. Fitzgerald left for Homo nearly seven months ago and during that time he officiated for three and a half months as acting-vicar of Hanley, a very large parish in Staffordshire, the country known variously as "the Potteries" and- "the Black Country." Mr. Fitzgerald is familiar to that part of England, having' worked as a ourate in the adjoining parish sixteen years ago, of which connection he still bears a memento in the form of a very handsome gold watoh.

Speaking of the war, Mr. Fitzgerald said that he happened to be in London on the night war waß declared, and witnessed the great processional throngs which forged their way through the streets to pay their tribute of loyalty to His Slajesty at, Buckingham Palace. The influence o'f the war was very keenly felt in Hanley parish, as consequent upon orders being cancelled some of the potteries \vere compelled to Shorten hands at once, and that meant dire distress, for at the best of times in Hanley parish it was a hard fight to keep, the wolf from the door. A Distress Committee was at once set up, and as the Vicar of Avonside. was a member he speaks feelingly of lie good! work that -was done and fortitude shown by the poor people; But Hanley had its wealthy olass, and they subsoribed very liberally to the fund, and through a_ system of sub-committees in each district full inquiry was mado into every case, and the right sort of relief was administered.

Sir. Fitzgerald Baid that Staffordshire answered to the call for recruits splendidly.. Indeed, for some weeks there were more reoruits offering than the War Office authorities could deal with, and after.taking their names and addresses, many men were allowed to go back to work, and were paid a small retaining fee of about 6d. a day, In return for which they were to report for duty when called! upon, to do bo. The idea that difficulty was being .experienced in gaining recruits at Home was entirely dispelled by Mr. Fitzgerald's understanding of the position. It appeared to him that the gteat war had come upon the nation so suddenly that the War Office had not the organisa--tion to deal with the sudden mobilisation of 200,000 or 300,000 troops. There was not the barracks for them; or the clothes, or the oommiss'ariat, but as tho days' went on. all these difficulties were quickly overcome, and an organisation to train regular drafts of men at different places was soon established. In the Hanley parish many of the masters dismissed the young men in their employ, in order that the older men with responsibilities might be kept on whilst the younger men could enlist if they felt disposed to do so, instead; of remaining idle.

The Rev, Mr. Fitzgerald referred to the sad voyage of the. Turakina from London—a\ trip that'had been marked' by no fewer than five deaths. Tho number of deaths,, in which he as ship's chaplain, was immediately concerned, combined with the fact that the vessel called at no way ports and ho deck lights were allowed of an evening, made the voyage a rather depressing one. Indeed, there was quite a scare : at one stage, and tho patfsetfgers were.contemplating petitioning the captain to run into Cape Town for a'medical man to replace Dr. Thomas; but nothing of the 'kind'was-'done. '-.•...•■" .-'■-.,.<'