OUR WOUNDED.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 17, 14 December 1916, Page 3

OUR WOUNDED.

NEW ZEALANDERS IN ENGLAND. (By a Special Correspondent.) London, November 7. Since their arrival in England, Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward have had many opportunities of observing tlie work which is being done for Xew Zealand Soldiers by the Xew Zealand JVar Contingent Association. On the day alter their arrival they visited Xo. 2 New Zealand General Hospital which under the name ol the Xew Zealand Auxiliary Hospital, was the first tangible outcome of the Association's work. It commenced with only 100 beds, but has been added to again and again, and since it was finally taken over by the New Zealand Medical Corps, it has been increased to more than 1,000 beds. Mr Massey spoke in very high praise, of the work of the Association in establishing this institution, to which he has paid another visit.Mention has also been made of the Hostel for our soldiers in Russell Square and the Soldiers' Clubs at the various depots and camps. At the luncheon of the Roj'al Colonial Institute last week Sir Joseph Ward referred in very cordial terms to the Associaion's devoted work amongst the Xew Zcalanders. THE OUTSIDE VIEW. Though comparisons are odious, there can be no harm in quoting what the British Australasian says in comparing the care which is bestowed en Xew Zcalanders in England with the treatment their fellow soldiers from the Commonwealth receive. In making this quotation from the "British Australasian" hqwever, it is fair to say that the Australian task is naturally a very much severer one than the New Zealand one, and it is open to question whether the Australian Colony in England is (proportionately as strong as the New Zealand one. The "British Autarnlasinn" says:—

"It is a significant fact that a week rarely passes without sonic complaint from an Australian soldier who finds himselfneglected in (hospital, and that we have never yet had a single lament of this kind from a New Zealander. The Xew Zealand War Contingent Association is evidently run on strictly business lines, and the members of the Committee are expected to work and not be purely decorative. Each hospital visitor makes •a report twice weekly of the progress of every individual man so that it is hardly surprising that complaints of inattention are almost unknown. A

groat deal must be said for tlio tact and assistance of the official visitors, many of whom have a record oi 18 months' continuous visiting."

FINANCIAL ANALYSIS. The Committee which is in most direct touch with our wounded is the visiting committee, whose duty it is to see that all hospital inmates are visited and provided with anything tiiev require, both in the form of comforts and to .replace articles oi kit. The expenses of the visiting committee for the mouths of September amounted to more than £SOO. Hutin September the wounded from the Somme offensive were only beginning to reach England. By the end of the month there were nearly 5000 of oui- men in hospital on this side ol the channel—including 1200 in Brockenhurst, 1000 at Homchurch, and 1800 in various British hospitals. This means a very considerable increase in both work and expenditure. The visiting committee's estimates lor the ensuing month's expenditure amounted to £I7OO, including very big purchases of comforts and -small articles which were bound to he requisitioned. This accounts for almost all the expense, for all the visitors are voluntary workers, and practically the whole of the office work is also done without fee.or remuneration.

... THE SOLDIERS' CLUB. In ease there should be any idea that oil!' men do not appreciate the accommodation provided tor them by th'e New Zealand War Continent Association, it may be stated'that up to the end of September 7,500 beds had been v occupied at the Hostel in Russell Square, or a daily average of 125. Men passing through London had taken ~.,1,000 breakfasts at the club, 2.000 'dinners, and 1,800 leas, while the club canteen had served more than 11,000' soldiers. It has to be borne ill mind that the facilities that are provided by the Association are in many cases the alternative of a second-rate public house. It is a considerable achievement to have provided for 357 New Zealanders per day who are constantly passing through London. The use of the Club is entirely optional, but the Committee by meeting leave trams give the soldiers a chance of beginning their furlough among friends and under sale conditions for themselves. THE. NATIONAL GAME, There is no tear that the New 'Zealand national game will fall into abcvanee while our men are on ser-

vice in Europe. At least one oi the casualties in the English hospitals to-day is the direct result of a football accident behind the lines in France. Wherever any of our soldiers are gathered together in England, there is a Rugby lift ecu, and l )( ,j', m . t| l( . first frost had made its appearance they were playing Rugby matches with local clubs. Incidentally at Swansea on Saturday before (5,000 people, they turned the tables on South Wales, by defeating them by i) points to 7. One of the knottiest questions which have had to he <U«.-U\vd by the New Zealand War Contingent Association for some tune past, was the problem of alloting a moderate sum of money for the equipment of the Rugby representatives of live different branches the service in the reserve camp at Sling iUU I a representative team from the five. The difficulty was got over by voting £25 to the camp-generally for the purposes of obtaining iootbal.J equipment.