The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-04-10
New Zealanders Praise Uncle
Sam for Neutrality.
But Would Expect Aid i'm Case
British Reverses.
LETTER FROM E. C. BROWNELL
Former Topekan Is Head Of
New Zealand Y. Nj. C. A.
Writes Interestingly of COndi-
tiOns at Christchurch.
SATURDAY

Ninety per cent of the British col
onies favor the neutrality of the
United States in the war which is de-
vastating Europe. according to e. c.
BrowneIl. of Christchurch. New Zea-
land, and formerly general secretary
of the Central Y. NJ. C. A. Topeka
Only in case that things should go
hard with Britain and the allies would
Uncle Sam be expected to take
hand.
Secretary Brownell, who is acting
national Y. NJ. c. A. secretary for New
Zealand, has written interestingly or
conditions in New Zealand in a gen.
eral letter to Topeka friends. Accord
feeling against the administration in
this country in it's policy of nonprotest
against the invasion of Belgium and
awful atrocities"
New Zealand Was First.
The letter reads:
New Zealand was the first colony
to have men in training in camps for
the eXpeditionary force, and on the
sea bound for Samoa they came
very near being caught by the Ger
mans. There are now more than TO-
900 under arms at the front and in
training camps. Then there are the
Territorials in compulsory training,
and the citizens defense corps volun-
teers. The latter are using the asso-
ciation's rifle range.
The declaration of war brought cur
tailment in nearly every industry and
of course the association was obliged
way for the Inauguration of rural
work, and a man secured for the
opening of that department. This had
to be given up as well as all other
lines of extension, including our pub
LEGATION, Manhood, which periodical
will be again published in March.
The concentration camps, however,
opened new avenues of usefulness
and the association Immediately re-
sponded to the request of the officials.
buildings for social service work.
Writing materials, games, musical
programs and religious meetings were
conducted. Coffee was served by the
government, and given at night in our
quarters in hundreds OF gallons. The
men appreciated the work so much
that their donations, together with
SOME private subscriptions paid all or
the expenses. One of our directors,
solicitor tlawyer), with assistance,
wrote hundreds of wills for the men,
without charge, and assisted many TO
put their affairs in shape before going
to the front The association as a
beneficiary, is named in some of the
wills, we are pleased to say. though we
trust that they will not have to be pro-
bated for many years We nave an
iron building at the camp in the
North Island, where there are now
5000 men encamped-
More than 200 of our Christchurch
association boys have volunteered, in
Guiding one of my assistants.
BrowneII ut Head
In December, much to our regret,
Mr. Jameson. the national secretary,
who by the way. is an American, who
has been out here about eight years
and has done a splendid work both
here and in Australia, resigned to take
the local secretaryship at Hobart,
Tasmania The associations then vot-
ed to remove the national headquar-
tiers to Christchurch, and requested
me to serve as acting national sec
rotary during the war period, Mr.
Varney, the secretary at wellington.
to act as assistant. There has been
organized an executive committee of
strong businessmen in Christchurch,
and the chairman, while new to the
work, is in a position to give plenty OF
time, which he promises to do. 1 will
assume this new position in addition
to my local work on February "a,
then, together with the new chair
man and the present secretary. visit
the associations of the South island.
Mrs Sheldon and their son from
Topeka spent a week with US in Sep
TENDER, and il goes without saying
see those first friends direct from home.
My, how the tongues wagged- The
doctor did some good work for the
temperance people while in the Do
minion. Mrs Browneli, Mrs Sheldon
and Merriam took the west coast trip,
going through the beautiful Otira and
Butler gorges- have that trip in
prospect some day.
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