OUR BOYS IN ENGLAND

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 22, 20 October 1917, Page 3

OUR BOYS IN ENGLAND

♦ WAR CONTINGENT ASSOCIATION'S WORK

REPLY TO CRITICISM

(By I. W. Raymond, Chairman of the Executive of tho Nmv Zealand AVar Contingent Association.)

Despite the reports appearing from lime to time in tho l'ress as t» the workings of this association I judge, from, observations made last May by tho Mayor of Auckland and by one or two others at patriotic meetings, that souio haziness exists as to the distribution of firnds at this end. Those responsible for this distribution wekome wholesome and intelligent criticism. It is stimulating, and indicates that a healthy interest is manifested in. the distribution of funds by thoso who havo remitted them, but what is rightly resented is statements being made for publication which a littlo inquiry would have shown to be? erroneous. A reasonable course u> adopt; would, be) to cable to the association first for its explanation. In the case of the remarks mado by the Mayor of Auckland. Colonel Parkes hae already written to thn Mayor pointing out that his letter had been misunderstood, but it; jis so unfortunate that a. gentleman holding a public position 6hould hare mado si statement, which jjovo an entirely wrong impression when a, little inquiry would havo elicited tho facts. Onr critics should remember that t-l ih* thousands of our gallant boys who have passed through tlra hands of onr association there nre few who will not f*el a sense of appreciation io their countrymen in J/onuou for what; has beeu done on their behalf through tho various committees of the association. Many of our boys, after a short ntay in this alluring centre, iind that money is-very volatile. Thero are reasons why it is not always judicious to replenish their coffers, so occasionally criticism is met with at this end. Tho tissociatipn has, however, never' refused to provide free, comfortable quarters for any soldier in straightened circumstauces. Many of such rave reached this etago through no fault 01 their own, having been relieved of their pay. There exists no other organisation in the United Kingdom to moot this situation. , Tho association has never sinco its inception declined to respond to a, request for contributions wade by tho lfilitary or medical authorities. Occasions havo arisen .where it has offered to render servico to fit and ui:nt men, but for no doubt good and sufficient reasons the proffered help has been docliued. Tho association, with its extensive organisation, could Have done much more than it has but for. tho fact that the moneys remitted to it havo been, specially earmarked for sick and wounded, except in a few instances. An appeal was made by cable, followed m> by a letter* asking for permission to expend on fit\meii—with the approval of the G.0.C.—25 per cent, of the remittances, but no definite reply was ever given. Tho fact must not be everlooked that unless there existed some organisation to tako a fatherly interestin the fit men who arrive here, in many cases without knowing anyone, they would encounter dangors that would require some fortitude to resist. 'Jhis association/ was the first to recogniso tho danger of not providing a homo life for the .Dominion soldier when in the United Kingdom, and of not occupying his time in every way possible in healthy attractions. The value of the work done under this head cau nover be adequately gauged. Tho Now Zealaud Soldiers' Club has proved a eauotuary and a blessing to thousands. . It is tho only club in London whoso members of committee personally meet every train arriving at Victoria Station. Tho New Zcalaiid men are collected and their transport arranged direct to the club, where hot suppers aro provided on arrival, ovon though it bo hi hours of tho morning. Their own countrywomen are there, voluntarily ministering to their comforts. X considerable number of .the mo'n baud over their "pay" to the secretary, who dock his best, to .dribble it ovit sc> as io extend it< over the furlough. This club is known all over France as the "N.Z. Home" in London. Adjoining tho offices in Southampton Bow is the canteen, where ou an average 100 meals a day are served. Men out from hospital for tho day are entertained free. T.hie in itself is a great and useful work. Then there nre iho clubs at Kornchurch, Brokenhurst, Salisbury, Codford, and tho recreation rooms at Oatlunds and Walton, all staffed by New Zealand women, many of them well knoffii in the Dominion. The object in to make the surroundings as ■ homelike as possible,'so as to induce the boys fo remain in camp rather than to explore the attractions of the adjoining town. No one who has not visited those clubs and seen the canteens full'to overflowing can form any idea of the benefit they are to the men. It is not difficult to realise that after a day or two spent in sightseeing the hoys get bored and are at a loose end. The association has always done its best to cater for tho. amusements of these—theatre tickets, etc. Ihose i who aro not familiar with London social I life have no idea of the cesspools of 111- ! famy that their eons have to run tho gauntlet of. Many members of the association, being themselves fathers and mothers, are fully alive to the obligation that they feel they owo to those 111 tho Dominion who are suffering the agonies of suspense as to how their sons are faring. Jt should also be remembered that the work of tho association haa been practically restricted to tho United Kingdom. It has, however, always 6ent papers to France, and since our military authorities have made us of French hospitals it has sent comforts and necessities to the patients there.

■Sinews of War. In the early life of the association it relied for its resources on contributions made by New Zealanders here, and also on remittances made by patriotic organisations in the Dominion. The controllers of theso funds have sometimes forgotten the embargo they laid upon tho association as to "sick and wounded only/' and have occasionally referred padres and others to tho funds lying in the hands of the association, when the applications were for benefits to fit men here and in France The association, has euftered criticism because of its inabiilty to reB I can unhesitatingly affirm that the policy of my co-workers has ever been to lean sympathetically towards brighteuin" the life of our boys us much as possible, but not to overdo it, recognising that it was our duty to co-operate witli the military luithoriliss in doing everything possible to secure the apeedy recoverv of the men.- In this connection 1 foil bound to state that tho men well may be thankful that they haw such a strict:, strong, yet so liiuuot a 6.0.C. us is General Richardson. However much he ina-v wish to do for the. men when hey are ou furlough, the military k<4 out of their existence sw muc .»» possible. It.is here where the woik oi he oi. value. If I may *ny so, those who have drawn criticism on the association are ceifam Dominion contributors who, with LI 0 best: of intentions, have remitted sums tn irresponsible sources here, because 1. (heir opinion tho association 11 a> too penurious. This has certainly led to considerable overlapping. It is ah .vo I that I should slate that General .lacli"rdeon exercises the.righfc of vetoing-ap-plications from hospitals tor rertai «"i----torts and necessities, and the mailed fist" sometimes descends. Ihis pow ■has brought criticism on the nssociat on through it not: being understood that the association must conform. 0 the wishes of the military authorities, bull fed t is a sound position for the G.O.G. to tnke up. H prevents extravagance and ui=-roura"-es indiscriminate applications. ■ As regards lit men the Gtwra recognises the invaluable work that the nn\dierV Club hns .lone, anil ..so .Hi" rl.i;» in tho various pump?, and he is 111.111 Kj-mpiithv with any work being estemlrU Io Iho men which will occupy I heir siltentiiin when on leave. T havo long licit this view, but Iho restrictions, imimiwl ljr Ilinso in thn Dominion si* to spniiilii'ii; funds merely for sick ijnd woiimleil havo seriously curtailed work for fit men that the association coulri havo remlere, . Money must be forthcoming for pt",™ins ailractions for our boys, where ligut refreshments and healthy cnfortiiiiimeius enn be obtained. The association, with ils band of noble women workers.. caD

alono offeclively <leal with' this 'situation. Tho nnmes of thoso wlio constituto tho association executive, and the various committees aro surely sufficiently well known to the majority of Now Zealandera to bo ii guarantee tlwit everything will be done that should be dono in tho interests of the men, and, moreover, that money will not ho wasted. Surely thoso on the spot must be nioro familiar with tho ljc;t means 'to secure this end than aro these M.OOfl miles away. Tho criticism by tho Mayor of Auckland on tho enst of administration is surely mado under an entire misapprehension of facts. Tho administrative chai-ffo of tho nssoeintion in relation to disbursements does not exceed 5 fmr cent. This for a distributing organisation is phenomenally low. Rent accounts for fully 2 per cent., and tho balance is distribtucd over (ravelling expenses, visitiii" hospital?, postages (heavy., items), and clerical. The fact has itlso to )k remembered that owing to the jjenorjil shortage of offico hands, substantial salaries havo to bo paid to typists and book-keepers. It eoems very paltry io go into l.hoso details, but when an inptitution etaffed by practically all voluntary workers, is charged with extravagant administration, and that ljy ono in a prominent position, it calls for an -explanation. I would remind tho urilic that curtain voluntary workora on the staff havo held their present positions for nearly liireo years. I knutv' two huve deolined well-paid Government, appointments. Many members of tho , various committees have held office for nearly three years. They also havo been ■offered lucrative positions, but they look upon their work aH their contribution towards tho man-power necessary to finish the job. 1. do trust that for tho future, before criticism is levelled at the association, a cablegram is dispatched to "T.cnakoutu," London, asking tor an explanation. Then go ahead, willetand by our guns.