Tired Nurses.

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2951, 11 December 1916, Page 7

Tired Nurses.

With two or threo hundred nurses on service—moat of them now in England—thero was au obvious need'of some provision for occasional, rest and convalescence for them if they were to keep fit and. strong. This lias been met by a vary generous offer from Mr. Astor, to placo at the disposal of the War Contingent . Association his tine home at Rest Harrow, near Sandwich. Miss Tombe (Dunedin), who was tho first matron of tho New Zealand Hospital at Walton-on-Thauies, has been appointed to have charge of tho new home, and already several of our nurses requiring rest haye spent a few weeks there with much • benefit. Though nurses of the N.Z.E.F. will get preference, in caso-tho accommodation is overtnsed, tho homo will be open to any .Now Zealand nurso on duty iu England. The Soldiers' Hostel.. '"I .always" stay at the New Zoaiand Hostel iu Russell Square," wfoto a trooper to me tho other day, quite unsolicited; "I think it is an ideal placo for ouu soldiers to stay at." This refers to tho residential club which has just been opened in Bloomsbury. Anyouo who knows anything of his London —or any great city for that matter— 1 will appreciate what this sort of place .means to a young man in a strange land. Tho path of tho soldier on leave is besot with dangers, and ho would be' a very smart sort of man who did not fall into any of tho traps set with diligent caro to entrap our soldiers and their money. War conditions favour tho harpy and tho sponger, and consequently, ever since our men went to Franco, members of tho War Contingent Association have regularly met the leave trains arriving in London and taken in. hand those of our hoys who wero now to London and could do with advice.' If they want a bed they are taken to the hostel in Russell Square. At any rate they can always go thcro for cheap, good food cooked by New Zealand ladies, for billiards and all tho conveniences of a rendezvous. At any time of the night they can get warm meals cooked and served hy New Zealandcrs.s Mr. Arthur Russell, who is about to pay a visit to New Zealand, is chairman of the Hostel Committee, and Mr. R. H. Nolan (Hawera) has been throughout a most capable and thorough organiser. Sir James Mills, chairman of the Finance Committee oj tho War Contingent Association —a watchdog for the subscribers—left London this week on a visit to New Zealand (Sir James is now in tho Dominion), where ho will bo ablo to give first-hand information as to what the association has been doing. Tho High Commissioner (who is chairman of the association) gavo a farewell luncheon to Sir James Mills and to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Russell, who arc leaving in November to spend tho winter iu New Zealand. Mrs. llussell as honorary treasurer of tho Visiting Committee was one of tho most capablo organisers in tho early days, and also did excellent service as buyer at a time when buying was most difficult and important work. Mr. J. H. B. Coatcs, tho vice-chairman, will preside over tho Finance Coraniittco during Sir James Mills's absence. _ Miss Ida Russell has joined tho Visiting Committee; and Mr. Caccia Birch (Rangitikei) has consented to becomo honorary organiser to tho association, a very necessary post whero the work of so many committees has to bo coordinated. Their Entertainmont. In August the War Contingent Association arranged theatres for 779 soldiers and drives for 22!) —tho theatro tickets being nearly all given freo hy the managers. It is hardly necessary to say that considering how many men wero then in and about London, this did not entail excessive expenditure. "Ovcr-indulgonco in pleasure-giving" is 'ii bogey frequently held up as a warning to welfare associations. Subject to the approval of the Patriotic Leagues m Now Zealand, a Christmas gift will bo given this year to all membors of tho N.Z.E.F., at a cost not exceeding one shilling per head. It will probably bo a' small pocket book, as last year, containing special information of service to tho men.