OUR WOUNDED.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1916, Page 18

OUR WOUNDED.

NEW ZEALAXDERS IK 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 the work which is being done for New Zealand soldiers by the Nlew Zealand War Contingent Association. Oil the day aftev their arrival they visited No. 2 New Zealand General Hospital, which, under the name of the New Zealand Auxiliary Hospital, was the first outcome of the War Contingent Association's work. It commenced with only 100 beds, but lias been added to again and again, and since it was finally taken cr by the New Zealand Medical Corps, it has been increased to more than 1000 beds. Mr. Massey spoke in very high praise of the work of the Association in establishing this institution, to which he lias paid another visit. Mention has also been made of tho hostel for our soldiers in Russell square and the foldiers' clubs o' the various depots and camps. At tl.e luncheon of tho Royal Colonial Institute last week Sir Joseph Ward referred in very cordial terms to the Association's devoted work amongst the New Zealanders. THE OUTSIDE VIEW. Though comparisons arc odious, there can be no harm in quoting what the British Australasian says in comparing the care which is bestowed on New Zealandera in England with tho treatment their follow soldiers from the Commonwealth receive. In making this quotation from the British Australasian, however, it ia fair to say that tho Australian task is naturally a very much severer one than tile 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 paper says: —"It is a, significant fact that a week rarely passes without some complaint from an Australian soldier who iinds himself neglected in hospital, and that we have never yet had a single lament of this kind from a New Zealander. The New 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 suprising that complaints of . inattention are almost unknown. A great deal must be said for tho tact and assistance of the official visitors, many of whom have a record of 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 land provided with nnything -they require, both in the form of conforts and to replace articles of -kit. The expenses of the visiting committee for the month of September amounted to more than £SOO. But in September the wounded from the Somme offensive were only beginning to reach England. By the end of the month there were nearly 5000 of our men in hospital on this side of the Channel, including 1200 in Brockenlrtirst, 1000 at Hornchurch and ISOO in various British hospitals. This means a very considerable increase in both work and* expenditure. The visiting committee's estimate for the ensuing month's expenditure amounted to £I7OO, including very big purchases of comforts and small articles which were bound to be 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 an idea that our men do not appreciate the accommodation provided for tlitm -bv the New Zealand War Contingent Association, it may bo stated that up to the end of Soptcmber 7500 beds had been occupied at the hostel in Russell square, or a daily average of 125. Men passing through Ijondon had taken 4000 breakfusts nt the club, iiOiH) dinners and 1800 teas, while the club canteen had served ;iioro than 14,000 soldiers. It has to be borne in mind that the facilities that are provided by the Association are in many eases the alternative of a secondrate pußlic-house. It is a considerable achievement to have provided for 357 New Zeftlanders pc-i' day who are constantly passing through London. The use of the club is entirely Optional, but the committee by meeting leave trains give the soldiers a chance of beginning their furlough among friends and under safe conditions for themselves. • THE NATIONAL OAJIE. There is no fear that the New Zealand national game will fall into abeyance while our ffleti are on service in Europe. At least one of 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 inEngland there is a Rugby fifteen, and before the first frost had made its appearance they were playing Rugby mutches with local clubs, Incedtntally at Swansea on Saturday, before 6000 people, they turned the tables on South Wales by defeating them by 9 points to 7. One of the knottiest questions which have ihnd to be decided by the New Zealand War Contingent Association for some time past was the problem of allotting a, moderate sum of money for the equipment of the Rugby representatives of five, branches of the service in the reserve camp at Sling and a representative team from the Ave. The difficulty; was got over by voting £®s to the camp generally for the pur•poseu of obtaining football equipment.