ABOUT SOLDIERS

Hokitika Guardian, 18 May 1917, Page 2

ABOUT SOLDIERS

An interesting letter .received last mail from a New Zeeland girl now working in London, describes how that city has been affected by the war, states the Auckland “Star.” ‘‘Everywhere one goes ou6 sees men in khaki, either singly on the payments, in shops, and tea rooms, or battalions of them marching along the streets, or drilling in the parks.” She says: “One sees, oh; snoh a lot c-f poor wounded men in the blue hospital suits and khaki overcoats with blue bands round the arm, out for a walk or a drive—and sometimes luxurious cars full of wounded men out for a drive. It is pitiful to see the number on crutches with one leg off, but some walk quite well with the wonderful artificial legs that are niade now. They can Bven play footbal 1 when tbeyLget used to themWomen do ail kinds of men’s work, going about in trousers, and carrying ladders as professional window-clean-ers; they deliver letters, take round milk in hand-carts, drive motor vans and carts of all descriptions ; there are women tram and ’bus inspectors, news-

paper Boilers, and I have even seen them delivering coal. Our New Zealanders make quite a show in the streets. One Bees numbers of them. People can distinguish them from the Australians easily now because of the red bands on their hate. Of course there are far more Australians,and English people are beginning to understand at last that New Zealand'and Australia ate' two different place’, because they have mixed with soldiers from other, countries. We are finding it difficult to live now, with everything so dear, and so scarce, and so few men 'to deliver things. The Government is going to compel people to work on the land* because they are stoppiug the import of so many things, and say we mustgrow food for ourselves.