H.—33

3

Help has, however, been extended in both cases whenever possible, and the results obtained are most encouraging, a prominent feature being the large number of commissions which have been obtained by New-Zealanders in the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service. The cases assisted may be divided into the following classes : — (1.) Gentlemen offering themselves for commissioned rank in the Navy and Army. (2.) Gentlemen offering themselves in a technical or non-technical capacity, without commissions, in the Navy and Army. (3.) Gentlemen offering themselves as munition workers. In a few instances lucrative and responsible positions have been obtained by New-Zealanders under the Department of the Ministry of Munitions of War. Included in the above are cases of gentlemen who before leaving the Dominion have signed a declaration to offer their services. In such cases there is added to the efforts of the Office to help secure suitable positions for these gentlemen the responsibility of seeing that the declarations are fulfilled so far as is possible. (4.) Gentlemen above military age, or suffering from physical defects, who wish to obtain some form of war work, including ambulance-driving. New Zealand Ladies desirous of offering their Services in connection with the War. A very large number of applications have been received from New Zealand ladies desirous of offering their services in connection with the war. These are described under the following heads : — (I.) Trained nurses. These are assisted with introductions to the chief officer in this country of the New Zealand Army Nursing Service, or to the Matron <?f Queen. Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service. (2.) Red Cross workers who are not trained nurses. To these are given introductions to the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. (3.) Ladies without nursing experience of any kind. Many obtain,, through the efforts made by this branch, work as V.A.D. helpers, motor-car drivers for various warsocieties, helpers in connection with the work of New Zealand War Contingent Association, and in various hostels and canteens for soldiers, as munition workers, and as clerical workers in offices. Many good appointments have been obtained for New Zealand ladies, and the results on the whole have been highly satisfactory. Military Service Act, 1916. Since the passing of the Military Service Act a very great number of New Zealand gentlemen, called up for military service under the above Act, have sought the assistance of the Department. The work in this connection requires the most careful consideration, and involves a large amount of correspondence and personal interviews. By arrangement with the War Office, this branch issues to persons a certificate stating that the holder comes within paragraph 1 of the exceptions set out in the First Schedule of the Military Service Act, when they can produce evidence, that they are ordinarily resident in New Zealand, or resident in Great Britain for the purpose only of their education, or for some other special purpose, but such certificates are only issued after each individual case has been considered on its merits. War Correspondent with the New Zealand Forces. A considerable amount of work and correspondence has been entailed by the publication in the Press of the United Kingdom, through this branch of the High Commissioner's Department, of the despatches of Captain Malcolm Ross, the Official Press Correspondent to the New Zealand Forces. As soon as a censored despatch is received from Captain Ross a copy is at once sent to the UnderSecretary, Department of Internal Affairs, Wellington. The article is then printed for the Press and issued to about 250 newspapers. Copies of Captain Malcolm Ross's cablegrams to " Gazette, Wellington," are also received here for publication, and a wide circulation of these messages is obtained through the Press Association. Old-age Pensions. Under instructions from the Old-age Pensions Branch in the Dominion, hundreds of certificates and other forms of proof of age have been obtained and sent to the Dominion. Schedules of applicants' cases are received by each mail from New Zealand, and the amount of work and correspondence necessary to obtain proof is very great indeed. Distressed New-Zealanders. Many applications for assistance are received from distressed New-Zealanders to enable them, to return to their homos in the Dominion. After necessary inquiries have been made, workingpassages in some cases are arranged. This work, which is considerable, involves in some cases 1 questions with which it is often difficult to deal. New Zealand Government Agent at Cape Town. Considerable correspondence has taken place with the Hon. Major Herbert Cj Pilcher, the New Zealand Government Agent at Cape Town, who is doing good work in. looking after the comfort of New Zealand troops calling there on their way to this country for training, and of permanently unfit men returning to the Dominion.