HOW FARE OUR BOYS?

Taranaki Daily News, 25 October 1917, Page 2

HOW FARE OUR BOYS?

THE WORK OP THE NEW ZEALAND WAR CONTINGENT ASSOCIATION. (By I. W. Raymond, chairman of the Executive).

i Despite the reports appearing from u'mc to time in the press as to the workings of this Association, I judge from observations made last May -by the Mayor of Auckland and by one or two others at patriotic meetings, that some haziness exists as to the distribution of funds at this end. Those responsible for this distribution welcome wholesome and intelligent criticism. It is stimulating and indicates that a, healthy interest is manifested in the distribution of funds by those who have remitted them, but what is rightly resented is statements being made for publication which a little enquiry would have shown to be erroneous. A reasonable course to adopt would be to cable to the association first for its explanation. In the case of the remarks made .by the Mayor of Auckland, Colonel. Parkes has already written to the Mayor' pointing out that his letter has been misunderstood, 'but it is so 'unfortunate that a gentleman holding a public position should have made a statement, which gave an entirely-wrong impression when a little enquiry would have elicited tho facts. Our critics should remember that of the thousands of our gallant boyg who have passed through the hands of our Association there are few who will not feel a sense of appreciation to their countrymen in London for what has been done on their 'behalf through the various committees of the Association. Many of our boys after a short stay in this alluring centre find that money is very volatile. There are reasons why it is not always judicious to replenish their coffers, so occasionally criticism is met with at this end. The Association lias, however, never refused to provide free, comfortable quarters for any soldier in straightened circumstances. Many of such have reached this stage through no fault of their own, Slaving been relieved of their pay. There exists no other organisation in the U.K. to meet this situation. The Association has never since its inception declined to respond to a request for contributions made by the military or medical authorities. Oceasions have arisen where it has offered to render service to fit and unfit men, but for no doubt good and sufficient reasons, the proferred help has been declined. Tho Association, with its extensive organisation, could have done much more than it has but for the fact, that the moneys remitted to it have been specially earmarked for sick and wounded, except in a few instances. i An appeal was made by cable, followed -■]> by a letter, asking for permission to expend on fit men—with thß approval of the fi.O.C.-—25 per cent, of the remittances, but no definite reply was ever given. The fact must not be overlooked; that unless there existed some organisation totake a fatherly interest in the fit men who arrive here in many cases; without knowing anyone, they wouid encounter dangers that would requir. eome. fortitude to resist. This Association Was the first to recognise the danger of not providing a home lift for the Dominion soldier when in the U.K. and of not occupying his time in every way possible .in healthy attractions. The .value of tho work done under this head can never ha adequately gauged.

The N.Z. Soldiers' €lub ha 3 proved a sanctuary and a blessing to thousands. It is the only Olub in London whose. members of committee personally meet every train arriving at Victoria station. The N.Z. men are collected and their transport arranged direct to the club arrival even though it be in the early hours of the morning. Their own countrymen are there voluntarily ministering to their comforts. A considerable number of the men hand over their "pay" to the secretary, who does his best to dribble it out so as to extend it over the furlough. This club is known all over France as the "N.Z. Home" in London. .

Adjoining the offices in Southampton Row is the canteen, where on an average 100 meals a day are served. Men out from hospital for the day are entertained free. 'This in itself" is a great and useful work. Then there are the clubs at fforrichurch, Brockenhurst, Salisbury, Codford, and the reoreation rooms at Oatlands and Walton, all staffed by N.Z. women, many of them well known in the Dominion. The object is to make the, surroundings as homelike as possible so as to induce the boys-to remain in camp rather than to explore the attractions of the adjoining town. No one who has not visited these clubs, and seen the canteens full to over-flowing, can form any idea of the benefit they are to the men.. It is not difficult to realise that.after a day or two ...spent in sightseeing the boys get bored and are at a loose end. The Association has always done its best to cater for the amusement of the9e. Those who are not familiar with London social life have no idea/of the cesspools of infamy that their sons have to, run the gauntlet of. Many members of the Association, being themselves fathers and mothers, are folly alive,to the obligation that they feel they owe to those in the Dominion -who are suffering the agonies of suspense as to how their sons are faring It should also be remembered that the work of the Association has been practically restricted to the United Kingdom.. It has, however, always sent papers to France, and since our military authorities have made U3e of French hospitals it has sent comforts and necessities to the patients there.. In the early life of the Association it relied for its resources on contributions made by \o\v Zealandera here and also on remittances made by patriotic organisations in the Dominion. The controllers of these funds have sometimes forgotten the embargo they laid upon the Association as to "sick and wounded only" and have occasionally referred, padres and others to the funds lying in the hands of Hie Association, when'the applications were for benefits to fit men here and in France. The Association has suffered criticism because of its inability to respond. I can unhesitatingly affirm that the policy of my co-workers has ever been to lean sympathetically towards brightening the life of qui- boys as much as possible but not to overdo it, recognising that it was our duty to co-operate with the military authorities in doing everything possible to secure the speedy recovery of the men. In this connection I feel bound to state that the men well may be thankful thai; they have such a strict strong yet so human a G..0.C. as is General Richardson. However much he may wish to do for the men when they are on furlough, the military must keep out of their existence as much as possible. It is hero where the 'work of the Assoeiatlonis of value.

If I may say so. thosi; who liav« drawn critioi<wu on the A&socintiou are certain Dominion, contributors who. with.

the best of intentions,- have remitted ■sums to wes|)onsibte-«roroes here, be- - cause 'in 'their opinion" fta : Association : was too penurious.. This has certainly led to considerable overlapping. It is as well that I should state that General Rklmrdßon exercises the right of vetoing, applications from hospitals lor certain comforts and necessities, and the "mailed fist" sometimes descends. This policy has brought criticism on the Association through it not being understood fiat the Association must conform to the wishes of the military authorities, but I feel it is a, sound position for the G.O.C. to take up. it prevents extravagance and discourages indiscriminate applications.

As regards fit men the general recognises the invaluable work that the sol-, diers' club has done, and also the clubs in the various camps, and ho is in full sympathy with any work being extended to the men which will occupy their attention when on leave. I have long held this view but the restrictions imposed by those in the Dominion as to spending funds merely for sick and wounded have seriously curtailed work for fit men that the Association could have rendered. Monoy must be forthcoming for providing attractions for our boys, where light refreshments and healthy entertainments can be obtained. The Association with its band of noble women worker? can alone effectively deal with this situation. The names of those who constitute the Association executive and the various committees are surely sufficiently well known to the majority of New Zealanders to be a guarantee that everythingwill be done that should he done in the interests of the men and, moreover, that money will not be wasted. Surely those' on the spot must be more familiar with the best means to secure this end than are those 14,000 miles away. The criticism by the Mayor of Auckland on the cost of administration is surely made under an entire misapprehension of facts. The administrative charges of the Association in relation to disbursements does not exceed five per cent. This for a. distributing organisar tion is phenomenally low. Rent accounts for fully two per cent., and the balance is distributed over travelling expenses, visiting hospitals, postages (heavv items) and clerical. The fact has.also to be remembered that owing to the general shortage of office hands, .substantial salaries have to be paid to typifcts and book-keepers. It seems' very paltry to go into these details, but when an institution staffed by practically all voluntary workers, is charged with extravagant administration and that by one in a prominent position, it calls for 'an explanation, I'would remind the critic that certain voluntary workers on the staff have held their present positions, for nearly three years. I'know twp have declined well-paid Government appointments. Many members of the vari- ' ous committees have held office for near 1 - l'y three years, they also have been offer-:■ >d lucrative positions, but .they look up-'. en their work as their contribution to-': ;wards the manpower necessary to' finish,' the'job, I do.trust that f'or'thV futfirei before'cr'iticisni.is'leyellea at the Asspcja-:! tion,/ a,'.cable'- is: despatched /to" "Teha-'t kbutu," London,.asking for an cxplana- ; tion. Then go ahead and We will stand l by our guns. ■ • • -