THE HOSPITAL SHIPS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 225, 21 September 1915, Page 4

THE HOSPITAL SHIPS.

j The .appeal made by hi* Exctllcmy tinGovernor to the people of New Zealand to awtist in the equipment of a second; hopital ship for the care of our solder*' !i* sure '.o evoke an enthusiastic and' generous response. As to ihe actual pecuniary rxpoute involved in fitting out' the Minima, the Mayors of the four I chief centres have arranged tli.it this] ehali be divided in what eecme to lie n' reasons! le proporth>.. and Auek!nnd'e contribution i< to be paid nut of the exist.ng iliisp.ial Ship Fund, which, fortunately. hi» a su:i>;.iiit:al balani? still standing to it* credit. Aj our readers i arc well aware. »c hive always favoured the idi'a of meeting all uuch calio for the care and comfort of our troops from one central fund, to be provided by epec.jl taxation. It ecenu to us thut this is the niOHt buiineusliWe wny of raiiinp and adminLitering such funds, an.l al.-o,' the moet equitable waj , of distributing the burdens incidental to the war y.cr the whole Dominion However. we h»vc already admitted that I'Jtrio tic KunJi such as Mr. Elliot :in now enthusiastically advocating pro- \ ide a very ueeful supplement to 1 Mate finance, because it thu» becomes I possible for the locjl to j make allowance for the special requireI ment* and clrcumetanees of iiidivMuah, I and lo contribute »omethiiijj to their support in addition to the State allowance, which is, of neccAiity, not only limited, but rigidly uniform. Another i point to bo observed in regard to the Governor's appeal i.i that the contribution of goods will enable many people ' lo ?ive help ill kind who are not--in aj, poeition to give much in actual rash, or | Snl it more convenient to devote time | and labour to the preparation of these I necessaries. Aβ to the importance of i the object, and the urgent necessity for j I providing air the comforts that we can | i possibly afford for the soldiers who are i fighting our battle.l so bravely, and Hirrifieing themsclvce for us. we hardly need to stress thi* eido of his Excel-1 lency's appeal, "which we have no doubt will"evoke from the people of Auckland a response that will do cmli.t to their .-.ell earned reputation for liberality and patriotism.