ENGLAND IN WARTIME

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3123, 29 June 1917, Page 3

ENGLAND IN WARTIME

GLIMPSES OF WORK A TALK WITH MRS. MASSEY Out of tho many iiiipvcssioiis which Mrs. Aiassey, tlio Wlio of the Prime. Minister, has carried awuy with "cr us the result of her visit to Ureal IJritiuii im> (one gathered in tlio course of an interview) tiieso three predominating oiipstho ■■"■■at military resources of J'Jnsliin<l. ouo aspect of which was to bo seen in the groat nufiibers of soldiers constantly to bo seen in the streets of London eithci , on their way over to I'raneo or oke returainif on leave; the splendid way in which they tire cured lor when wounded or .sick; and the wonderful way iu which the women of Great Britain arecarrying on the work during tlio absence uf the men at the war. As to the soldier*, every nationality under the sou is represented iu the streets of London — French, lielgiaii, Serbian, Indian, Italian, and every ronresentofivo of the overseas Doininions and colonics. Perhaps nothing- so much as tlio sight of these men did more to make everyone rcaliso what a world-wide war this is, and ilw. Massey considered that people in New Zi'iilaiid were very, very fortunate in boinjr so far away from this great Europeim whirlpool and its 'lorastntini! effects. This very aloofness possilly carried a loss with it", however, even though it had saved people from hardship and tho .sight of much suffering. Among these- groat numbers ol soluiorn it was impossible' to miss the New Zealanders, as their peaked slouched lints always betrayed their iirosoiico. As Miss Massoy remarked, "They had to live up to those, hats," for a good reputation, n New Zealand soldier and a peaked hat were all classed together as olio and the same thing. Everywhere, they wont they were always recognised as boms froin Men- Zealand, and the English people did their best to make life us pleasant as possible for them. There was no doubt whatever about their populiiritv. and they did much to deserve it. Almost the first thing that Airs. Massoy did when she reached England was "to visit Wα 1 ton-on-Thames Hospital, the im\ London Cieneral Hospital' (where a great ninny New //calami men were), Horuchurch, lirockenliurst, etc., to see how our wounded men were faring; «»d it should comfort people in this country very greatly to know that everything that could be done for the relief, und happiness, of their men was being done. It was perfectly niarvllous to see how bright and cheerful (hey were, and constantly Mrs. Jliisscy was seeing among them men whom she hud personally known ia New Zealand. Roth 6ho and •Miss Massey were continually being recognised b.y men who had seen or met them at tlio Soldiers' Club in Sydney Street. Afore particularly was thus the case at thu canteen in the Now Zpalaud •War Contingent Association Buildings, whero Miss Alassey worked for some time.* It was no uncommon thing: for the latter, when handing refreshments to tho men at. this place, to have them gaze at her and''say reflectively, "Whero have- I seen you before?" And then j porlmps it would ria.wn upon them that | it was at thu well-known Soldiers' Club iu Wellington, or, at any rate, somewhere in New Zealand. Canteen work was strenuous, naturally, and this particular one being a day canteen, work began at about half-piiet nine in tlio morning ami generally lasted till about seven at night. The eaemtl way in which soiuo of our men regard the size of London was rather amuHingly shown in a conversation between two of them. They had just met, one over from France and the other duo back some time or other soon. They greeted each other, "liow'ro yon getting on? Seen anything yet.'" "Oh," drawled the other, "just been lookin' around." "Think you know your way about?' , queried the other. •'Well, 1 think I've got the hang of things," was the reply. "How long have you been over?" was the next question asked. "Oh, came, across last night." And ho "had the hang of it"! Both Airs. Massoy ajid Miss Alassey saw a, great deal of tho work which was borne done for our soldiers at Home by the war Contingent Association, and botfl speak very highly of it. "People iu this country may bo quite sure th;it the money which is sent. Homo to be expended upon New Zealand soldiers is well spent. And not only do tho New Zealand women (aud there are very many ia England, and especially London, at the present time) do all that they can to secure their comfort, but so do the Englishwomen. Among the many 'interesting places which Mrs. Alassey visited was the place, at Roehampton where artificial limbs are made and fitted to the men. Aud the need for its services is tremendous. Tie Kcd Cross headquarters was another frequent pta-co of call, as Mrs. Masse? was very anxious to gather any ideas that she could for tho benefit of fled Gross work. As a matter of fact, the work which is being doae thero is very much like what is being done at the lied Cross depots' in Wellington, and as Mrs. Arthur Pearce, with whom the visited the centre, returned to New Zealand some time before it was possible for Mrs. Maseey to return, sho brought back with her some of tho latest patterns and methods of work. Buckingham Palace is also tho scene of Bed Cross activities, as it is there that Queen Alary has established her organisation, which also attends to the work of supplying comforts to the sound nion.it the front. A most interesting visit to the munition factories at Sheffield was made bj Jliss Massey. "Until you see them, it is very difficult to realist- how enormotu they are and what immense work U beiug done in them. Women do the lighter work, and everywhere in the factories you see them with a putty-coloured over-all on, u cap that covers every vestige of hair, and whtn working vita dangerous or poisonous chemicals they wear goggles and rubber gloves. It is the busiest place imaginable.' The food snortage was a very real one, "'lfter what I have soen and experienced at Homo 1 shall hate to set- even «. crnmb oi braid wasted now," said Mrs. Alassey. "No one cuts bread uselessly. If you are lato at the table you don't find bread cut and ready waiting for yvu. fnat is only done when you uw accually on the spot, aud the greatest caru a taken that you do not oxueed your allowance. Men if you were not a great bread-eater, and wished to pass on jour share to someone else tho action was not regarded with approval. Xf you <lid «ot take it then all the better, as it was so much saved. \nd just as it was with bread, so it was with some other forms of food, particularly with sugar. ■ To be in England wae to realise the "reat tragedy of tMe war, but it was also to realise tlio unconquerable spirit of the people and their quenchless determination to win—mcu and women alike. No work wus too hard, no sacrifice too great, so that the one end which all so fervently desired could be brought a little nearer.