FOR THE WOUNDED

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3033, 21 March 1917, Page 6

FOR THE WOUNDED

WORK OP THE WAR CONTINGENT

ASSOCIATION

(From a Special Correspondent.)

London, January 16. l Very fow indoed of tho New Zealand | 6oldiers in Great Britain were loft out I of the, festivities of-the Christmas sea- I son. The lit wer-a speaiaWy provided | for by tho Military Headquarters, i General Richardson informed tho Government in Now Zealand,that he pro-.! posed giving every ono of the men a ! proper Christmas dinner, and tho Government approved. The sick were tho especial care of the New Zealand War Contingent Association, and no stono was left unturned to give them a suitahlo insight into tho traditional enjoyments of tho English season. Those of our men who were in British Hospitals could not, of course,, bo approached, as every hospital in the land lias its own entertainments. Hut grants were made to such hospitals in proportion to the number of our men in them. The 2nd London General, for example, got a contribution' of £100 towards its Christmas Fund; Oxford got £50; and various Birmingham hospitals collectively £50. Altogether £460 was paid out under this head, a very moderate recognition of the consideration iavishod on .New Zealand soldiers throughout the year. 'At all tho New Zealand hospitals—Brockenlrarst, Walton, Codfor'd, and Hornchurch —thero were elaborately-planned festivities, aspiring in more than one place to the production of a pantomime by the mon themselves. Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward visited half-a-dozen of the hospitals, soldiers' clubs; and camps on Christmas Day, and were quite satisfied that the men wero not being allowed to spend a dull hour in the day. All mon in England received a gift from the association and' a diary from "the High Commissioner. Apart from sick and wounded New Zealanders, the association assisted to cater for those New Zealand soldiers who on leave from the front, or from camp or hospital, fpmjid t themselves alone in London on Christmas -' Day. For tbem a luncheon, an afternoon variety entertainment, and a tea followed by an impromptu dance (with the New -Zealand ladies who had helped to serve the meals) was provided.' Mr. Massey, Sir Joseph Ward, the High Commissioner, Lord Banf urly, and Lord- Plunket were amongst those who were present at this highly appreciated ityChristmas Cards. The messages of greeting sent by Colonel Allen from. New Zealand- and by Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward for the troops at Christmas, were circulated in the form of a card by the High Commissioner. The War Contingent Association followed its precedent of last year and produced a Christmas card for the use of the troops. Permission was obtained to reproduce an official portrait, of the King - visiting the New Zealand Division in France, and the card bore also tho New Zealand 'flag and the cheerful prophecy "The tide has turned" (Kua tinvu te tai). Soldiers in.hospital arid in the field purchased about 40,000 of these cards to send to ( their friends. The whole of the handling and book-keeping was done by! the voluntary staff of the I War Contingent Association. -

/ Soldiers' Clubs. The hospital at Walton-on-Thames having been handed over to the milii tary authorities, the principal' institutions ' now • controlled by the New Zealand War Contingent Association are the canteens and soldiers' clubs. Of these the Hostel iu Russell Square is managed by a special committee, and has a character of 'its own as the residential hotel of the New Zealand rank and file. Meals, are served here day and night by/ voluntary workers, and most 'of the 200 beds are occupied every-night. The hon.' secretary of the committee (Mr. R. H. Nolan, of Hawera) mentions as an indication of the exemplary behaviour of our soldiers that although 25,000 beds have been booked at the nostel since it was opened, the military police have only once been invoked to restrain an unruly guest. Thfe other clubs, which are controlled by a committee under the chairmanship of Mr. J. C. N. Grigg (Longbeach) are at Oodford, Brockenhurst, Walton, Oatlands, and Hornchurch. A. smaller one at Salisbury has come to be used more by Australians than New Zealanders on account of the geography of the camps on the plain. Club rooms are now recognised as a necessary adjunct of every < properly-equipped camp and hospital, and the New Zealand War Contingent. Association has, with the approval of the New Zealand Government, and the New Zealand military authorities in Ne*w ' Zealand, met as far as its funds will admit every demand for money for this purpose. Directing the Current. There was some discussion at last' meeting of the executive of the. New i Zealand War Contingent Association on the need for some advisory body in London to direct patriotic effort in the Dominion towards necessary objects. It has happened more than once that large sums of money have come forward from the' Dominion for objects which, though deserving enough, stand second to others which are in need of assistance. A striking example of this was the splendid subscription sent from New Zealand towards the'support of dependants of the seamen who lost their "lives in the Jutland Battle. The demonstration" Was well timed undoubtedly, but it is equally certain tha,fc the New Zealand effort-out of £111,000 subscribed, New Zealand gave £84,000 —went far beyond'what was'necessary. Another instanco was mentioned at the'meeting. Though the New Zealand Division has handed ovor its ambulance, equipment to the R.A.M.C., and has now no responsibility for, providing transport for the wounded in the field, a sum of money has come forward" from Pahiatua specially earmarked for this purpose, and another ambulance has been offered by a private donor. It has therefore not been possible to use the money for the special purpose indicated, and it., will lie unused to the credit of the association until further instructions are received. The association foels so strongly the need of directing effort where it is, most required that it has set up a small committee to frame suggestions on the subject. At Christmastido there were 3600 New Zealand soldiers in hospital in the United Kingdom, distribution as follows:—In British hospitals, 870; in Hornchurch, 920; in Brockenhurst, 000; in Walton, 710; in Codford, 240.