LEAVE IN LONDON

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 54, 27 November 1917, Page 7

LEAVE IN LONDON

NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS' CLUB

fcEPORT ON THE INSTITUTION

•AN EXCELLENT RECORD

Most people in New Zealand have home idea now of the work done for the troops in London by the New Zealand Soldiers' Club. Tho following report of the operations of the club shows what an excellent institution this club is, and how much it is used by our men on leave. The report is made available by the Prime Minister:— ' '"hie club comprises an hostel (in 'which meals are served at regular hours), and a canteon where meals can be obtained at all times; music, reading, writing, and billiard rooms, commodious bathrooms, with .eight hot and cold showers and eight plunge baths, medical quarters, barbers' shops, and boot-shiners' stand. There are 220 beds in the four houses'rented by the club, which have been extensively altered to adapt them for the purpose. Tliat it has proved a great benefit to the men of the N.Z.E.F. who _ have visited London from time to time is fully confirmed by the many appreciaiive acknowledgments tendered by Now Zealand soldiers. "The main policy has ever been to provide a club as homelike as possible. 'Die canteen cooking and attendance and the attendance in the hostel dining room is entirely in the hands of voluntary workers, and the work in this department is greatly appreciated by the men. These workers are indefatigable in their efforts to make everything run smoothly, and to make every man feel welcome, and the committee is very grateful to the lady helpers for their invaluable assistance. "It is' recognised that, though the club is open to all members ;of the Expeditionary Force, the first duty or •the committee in the matter of accommodation is to provide room lor toe men on the first night of arrival from the front, and tho last night or their leave. Under this system the men are able to divest themselves or their kit and accoutrements dunng their furlough, and to recover them 'on the eve of their departure. They are also sure of transport to the loave : train however early it may he, and also of being fortified' with a good hot breakfast. By arrangement _ with the military authorities, advice is received of the approximate number, of men 'daily due on leave from France. Accommodation is provided for these as far as possible, tlv overflow pcuyj; atraneed for at some other yuitable establishment. By this means, the men Arriving are always sure of comfortable quarters, which it would bo imtinssibio for them to arrange otherwise. iThey are met on arrival at Victoria Station bv members of the committee or other 'New Zealand helpers and transported to the club. whqre they are given clean underclothing and socks. lAmple bath accommodation', is_ provided. of which they eagerly avail them°"lt is a satisfaction to the committee to bo able to report that fully 50 tier cent, of 'the men from France lodge their money with the management. This obviates the danger of it being filched, and tends to restrict its 'disbursement before the end of the i furlough. •, ,• •„ x 'j.v i "So popular is tho club that the . 'overflow averages over 100 a day, for >whom the management arranges accommodation elsewhere. In view of this fact, some may think that on extension of the present club : might be worth serious consideration, but 1 ho committee is of opinion that circumstances, such as difficulty in Fecuring premises 'contiguous, cost of alterations at .the (present time/ and difficulty *11 obtaining suitable staff, are factors that justify the committee in leaving well ialone. ■ ■ . . "As will bo seen from the following Statement, since the opening (August 2, 1916) to July 31, 1917 (364 days), the receipts amounted to £13,744, exclusive of the allowance made by the f\V?r Office for board and IncWng of the iorderlies amounting to £1065. amount involved providing 64,869 beds, supplying 26.094 breakfasts, 14.4p9 teas, and 17,267 dinners, independent of the canteen sales (210,5221, which represent £9280 of the foregoing. Simount. AverAvor- ape aire daily Total daily rcNum- receipt', nuia- ceipts. ber. £ e. d. bar. R s. d. Beds at Bd. 64.869 2,162 4 0 178.2 5 18 10 Br afsd. St3 .. 26.094 869 15 4 71.7 2 7 10 Teas at Bd. 14,469. 482 5 6 39.7 1 6 5 Di la n ° rS t 17,267 863 1 4 47.4 2 7 5 Canteen ... 210,522 9,279 19 10 578 25 9 9 Billiards — 86 12 9 — 0 4 9 9 ' £37 15 0 "The New Zealand Soldiers,' Club is

situated at 17, 18, and 23 Russell Square, and 1 Upper Bedford Place, London, E.O. Tho members of the committee aro:-;Mr. A- & (chairman), Messrs. R. D. D. Lean, I. W. Raymond, 0. J. AVray, R. H. Nolan (lion, secretary), J. Burnett, the Countess of Hardwicko, Mrs. A. >• Russell, Mrs. W, Empson, Mrs. h. Wilson, Miss Hilda "Williams, Miss. Ida Russell, Miss Helen Mackenzie.