They make it as easy as possible for the soldier on leave, and particularly for the man going to or from the front, to find proper accommodation at very small cost. All trains are met, and the men are first asked to disclose their destination. Then they are taken to the nearest convenient centre, fed and washed and brushed up, and if they wish it, they can go to bed in the knowledge that they will be wakened in time for their train, whenever it leaves. About midnight there is a patrol of the streets of the city by motor volunteers, whose instructions are to offer accommodation to any soldier whatsoever who requires it.
If one hut is full, motors carry the overflow to others which have room. In a single week the huts of the Y. M.C.A. in London have given beds to 8000 soldiers. The New Zealanders come in for their share of this if they wish, just like any other soldier; but the hut which is specially earmarked for their accommodation, because it is near the headquarters, is the Shakespeare Hut in Keppel street, Bedford square, which was opened the other day. Like the New Zealand Soldiers’ Club in Russell square, the Shakespeare Hut furnishes not only sleeping rooms but a fine billiard room, writing and reading rooms, and the finest lounge and concert room of all the huts in London.
To help pass the time while on leave in London, the Y. M.C.A. organises sight-seeing tours under competent volunteer guides. The welfare of our returned soldiers is a matter that lies within the province of the Hon. Mr Herdman, as Minister in Charge of the department that was set up shortly after the war commenced. It is satisfactory to learn that over 84 per cent of the men who have returned to New Zealand have been disposed of. In other words, 4822 men have been dealt with out of a total of 5739, as follows: 2029 men have work to return to or have returned to military duty; 1137 men have been placed in light employment by the department; 1109 men have signed "Assistance not required"; 145 men have left New Zealand and cannot be found, and 402 men have not responded to repeated communications, or have accepted work found for them by the department, and then failed to make a start. In addition, a number of returned men have been placed on the land, but this is a work that is outside Mr Herdman’s department, being entirely in the hands of the Lands Department.
• Mr R. G. Baxter, late of Dunedin, who has during the last four months acted as office clerk at the military wards of the Wellington Hospital, is about to retire from the position for private reasons (reports the Dominion). Being unable to serve his country by enlisting, he showed his patriotism in a practical manner by giving his services without remuneration in a clerical capacity, and his extensive business knowledge proved most valuable in connection with the keeping of the hospital records, etc. During his stay at the hospital he won the respect and regard of all who came in contact with him, both of the medical and nursing staff, and of the soldier patients for the kindly interest he took in their welfare. His departure will be greatly regretted. Of Mr Baxter’s two sons, one has already given his life for his country at Gallipoli, while the other, Lieutenant Baxter, N.Z.M.C., late house surgeon at the Wellington Hospital, is in camp at Awapuni, and expects to leave shortly for the front with one of the reinforcements. — ODT, 31.10.1916.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
