WAR WORK IN LONDON

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10285, 21 May 1919, Page 3

WAR WORK IN LONDON

SOLDIERS' CLUB MARINO PROVISION FOR N'j/.Y ZEALANDKBS. Amonc New Zealanders who have boon working for tho benefit of the soldiern while iu Borland are Mr and Mrs James Burnett and their daughters. In tne course, of conversation they had some interesting things to sav about the New Zealand Club, in Russell Square, which was what the}- were chiefly interested in. 'i'he Vvar Contingent Association, whieii has doiio magiiineent work l'oi tiio men. ooln s.ek and well, did not at •list tniniv such i,u institution necessary. t"eei irouso lor jiiizao JJunet weie (oasiclerea sniheient. Tne rirst entirely s>aw Zealand canteen was tiio "i-iUK Out,' wlnou was esuiuUsaed o.v tne Misses Williams in November, ltiio, Victoria stieet, ciose to tne tujjh Commissioner s oilice. This was entirely nnanoea and run by tne pio uiocors, oi.ner iNew Zealaiider's assisting, aiuoim tnom Airs anu j.,iiso uu.jtu. When the New Zealand ohices were removed to Souihammoii Row the "Dug unl' lost its nseiiuness. The Misses U iJliaius had meanwhile- established, a similar cluo at iioruciiureli and were workunr there. A canteen was established near tne New Zeauuid xieauoaaiiers, vvneits Mis riurnet', mm her Caughtei. Mrs Atkinson, assisted. This was ctt'.efiv tor men on -luava from hospital, who needed a place to rest in. and also wanted to obtaiu information, etc. ■ In August. I'JiS. the War Cont.ngi.nt Association establisnud tho Soldiers' Club in Russell S<mure. . it began with one and gradually absorbed four houses. liven then it was not nearly big enough, but as it was always thought tno need for it might como to an end at any time, it was considered • better Hot to try and move. iiven so the expenses, were very great. Repairs -alone cost the committee JaOOO a year. The club while under the \\ ar Contingent Association was run by a separate committee, and it owes its being to Mr Nolan, who really managed tho whole work. Indeed, what the New Zealandcrs owe to Mr Nolan cannot bs assessed." declares Mr Burnett. Mr Burnett describes himself as office bov to the establishment. His duties consisted of looking after tho men's money (a safe bejn.g placed in the basement) changing mones', and giving information generally which was very much sought after bv men just going on leave for a short period. The mem were shepherded by the W.C.A. from the time of their arrival. They were met at tho station and either taken to the club or directed there and their 'bus tickets given them, so that every New Zealander know where to go for a bed and meal. Arrived at tho club, the first thing needed was a hot bath. To cope with this tno basements were thrown together and snowers and plunge baths put in. Then a change, of underclothing was supplied, which all camo from New Zealand. The soldier's pack could be left in the store room. A meal, of course, followed, and the changing 0 f j,i s _f rene h money nor Rnghsh, and the soldier uas ready to enjoy Ins leave in London. In tho .hostel there were 220 beds and these were not nearly enough. ' The regulations wefc very strict about over-crowd-ing, so not ninny shake-downs could-be provided. The club being in different houses, the working of it was somewnat difficult. In one house was the diningroom where cheap meals were providedbreakfast and tea bd each and dinner Is. In fact the men could live comfortably, for 3s per day. This house was managed by one man and a matron, who were among tho few paid helpers. In another was the canteen, with reading and smoking rooms and all tile accessories of nub life. Here Miss Burnett worked, looking after the canteen arrangements. This was kept open day and nignt, only being closed lor two hours in the .twentylour, between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. for cleaning. It was a very bufy life for the canteen workers. Over a thousand meals a day were served sometimes, and as the suiting accommodation was only 45, it can bo seen that the helpers nad little rest. They worked in four shifts, three in tho daytime and one at night. Tho night shift was from 10 o'clock until 7, and some .vomen, said Miss Burnett, have been doing tnat ever since the club opened and an at it still. Of these voluntary helpers Miss Burnett speaks in iiign praise.. Not only New kealanders; but ijiiglishwonieii worked wonderfully, and among the latter were many.who were in snops or oilices, and who eanio on to do their four hours' shift after leaving their other work. I'our hours washing up is a tiring job at any time, and at the end of a long day's work it certainly shows leal patriotism. Everyone, whether paid or voluntary, worked wonderfully. Among the former were a night cook and a woman who washed up during the night shift. Nothing would keep these .women away from their work. i,vcn during air raids they went just the same, insisting to the policeman guarding the underground entrance that they must go because the soldiers must be fed. On such occasions the club was siwciai'.ly crowded because the Y.M.C.A. huts, being mere shells, the authorities would not allow them to bo used in an air raid, so all the soldiers flocked to the club, sometimes in thousands. It made the workers i.io busy that they had no timo to think of what was going on, and none of the women would, go into the basement for protection. Indeed,, as Miss Burnett said, it was moro frightening to be in tho basement than to be hard at work above, and this in spite of the fact that most of the raids were aimed at the places surrounding Russell! square, the railway stations, etc.

When the New Zealand Club was started Mr Nolan Was invited to go inti. khaki and conduct it, under the military authorities. He refused, saying

jthat this was a civilian club, and the New Zealand soldiers had reason to bless liim for it. Other units envied the New Zealanders their club, and some Canadian oflicers once said they wished they had a similar institution. Asked what was wrong with their "Maple Loaf clubs, they said there was too much military discipline, a sentry at the dr.or, etc. There were no military police about the New Zealand Club, and Mr Nolan's decision was justified, for all the time that the club was in existed'*" only one man had ta bft handed over to the police for misdemeanour. JNot um. this, but only twice had it been found necessary to reprimand men for bad language in the canteen. Of course, in the oflice and basement, as Mr -Burnett said, they sometimes found it expedient to be deaf. During the earlier stages nl the chili's existence Mr Burnett said lie was driving men from the stations, and very seldom indeed had he found any man offensive, although they arrived cold and hungry, and sometimes had rather too much liquor. The club, of course, was strictly "dry," and if a man arrived in a "blind" condition, as some limes_ happened, lie was put into the "dead" room until ho recovered. It was never necessary to invoke the aid of the police. The club was allowed a number of orderlies from headquarters who could deal with such» cases, and whose duty it was to look after kits and baths, etc.

Speaking of the men's behaviour, Mr Burnett said it was a cause for pride dint the chief of the London police had said that the New Zealanders were better turned our, better behaved, and gave less trouble than any other unit. Miss Burnett, speaks.in high praise of them!' too. They were always patient and never trrumbled, she said, even when tko'r amateur waitresses forgot to serve them, and when tliey had to wait their ' turn in relays. K'ven on Armistice night (which was rather dreaded) there was no rowdiness or drunbenness at the club, which surely was rather a record. Speaking of records, Miss Burnett said the record meal served in the canteen was eight sausa.'lbs and four eggs with tli« attendant vegetables. This was before the days of the Food Controller of course. Jiven afterwards, however, UJe club was in a very satisfactory position, for all such clubs and canteens obtained supplies from the War Office, and at less than the ruling prices, so that such things as dried fruits were obtainable there though unprocurable in tiii shops. Speaking of conditions generally. Miss Burnett remarked that London was so crowded at present that it was only possible to move very- slowly in Oxford street at any time of the day. *Bun:s and trams were packed to suffocation. For months Miss Burnett said they had to stand on the step of'the underground train, usually forbidden, and even taxis j were practically xmobtainable.