NEW ZEALAND BUREAU IN EGYPT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8201, 26 July 1915, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND BUREAU IN EGYPT.

(From Our AVellington Correspondent.)

In the House on Friday, Mr Myers! (Auckland East) asked if the Minister of Defence would reconsider bis decision not to establish a New Zealand bureau in Egypt. A bureau with a staff {)i New Zealand officials could j transmit money, watch the delivery of letters, supply information, and generally serve as a channel of communication between the people of the Do- i minion and the troops. j The Minister of _ Defence said a bureau was already in existence in the form of the Records Office at Alexandria. The establishment of a second bureau would merely cause confusion. He was not prepared to set up an agency outside the Records.Office. The, work would be jnuoh better done by the Records Office. • ■'■ Mr Myers: "I beg to differ." r. Tire Minister said that the conditions in Egypt were very different from tho j conditions which had prevailed in ; South Africa. There had been a New : Zealand Bureau in South Africa during : the war there, but he did not think it : hod done very good .work. i. Mr Myers: "It was a volunteer ' office. Send a body of capable, officers ; ■ to TCcynt." * ! ThY Minister: "T am not prepared . to (In that." The Minister added thnt .. the Defence Department would remit :■ money to the soldiers by letter or tele- ■ ; gram at a minimum of cost. j,