AVAR CONTINGENT ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15605, 1 June 1916, Page 2

AVAR CONTINGENT ASSOCIATION.

THE WOUNDED IN ENGLAND.

NEW ZEALAND HOSPITAL

(fBOM OCR Off.V COnr.EaPONDEKT.)

LONDON, April 21

j Since tfit? New Zealand Hospital at | Waltcn-on-Tliames was ' opened last August-, 712 ritionts have been admitted, and there are now 176 in the institution. The mnjor operations peri formed since the opening number 170, i and 261 .skiagram plates have been i tnken. Owing to tho tapering off of j the wounded it was decided to elose I down as many wards as possible, so as I to reduce the expenditure during the I slack season, and the staff has been j curtailed accordingly. Although there ! has been very lit-tJe fighting lately, a few fresh eases generally trickle through eacli week. Brigadier-General Richardson made an inspection of the hospital on taking over charge of New Zealand military affairs in England. Through the good offices of Mr B. D. Douglas'McLean, the hospital i-, now drawing its su'j>pl3" ol meat troni tho stores of the Imperial Government. This arrangement ensures getting genuine N:nv Zen land mutton and lamb of the highest r;rade at economical prices. Mr Mann, of Smifchficld Market (formerly of Dunedinj. lias*assisted a great deal in inspecting the supplies. COST OF MAINTENANCE" A Kporial committee was recently set up by the executive of the, Association to enquire into the cost of the hospital. Certain reductions were suggested and carried into effect, most of rhem being rendered possible, by the diminution in the number of patients.- The not rc"suit will be the saving of about IMOO per month. It was". of course, out of the question to break up the medical and nursing start' during the slack season. and. "moreover, tho Committee foil that it would be a breach of faith to dispense .for a time with (lie services of workers, most of them finite voluntary, who had really engaged for the t.crni of the war. During the present slack period the nurses are being given the opportunity of having a short holiday. The personnel of the paid staff includes four medical officers and twenty-nine nurses.

I Tlio average cost per bed rose con- ■ sidcrably in December and Jauuarv. but this was due to special causes. Owing to flic increased number of beds, the staff had to be increased, and. moreover. as this came in the middle of winter, the exDenditure on coal, gas, find electric light was very heavy. There was also a considerable increase in the prices of foodstuffs and extra expense for Christmas festivities, tlie carriage of Red Cress goods from Now Zealand, etc. The committee is, however. sanguine of being alile to carry on the hospital until July 31st fthe end of the yenrV without exceeding the amount which has been promised bv the New Zealand Govc'-nmcnt to meet the estimated deficiency—namely. £10.600.

Mrs Ruthven has been appointed by the Entertainment Committer to act- as entertainment, sister at the hosnital to arrange all outing? and recreations for the patients. It has been decided to establish a garden plot for each- ward, and a competition is to be heid and prizes given for tho best frarden. Besides 17G men in the New Zen lard Hospital. there aTe now 91 New in other hospitals in England, 40 in convalescent- homes, and 95 in isolation hospitals. A "BURIAL PLOT—SUGGESTED DOMINIONS' MEMORIAL. A subject which is likely to engage the attention of all the Dominions was introduced at the last meeting of the Executive, by Mr Irver. V/. Raymond— namely, the provision or a genera] burial ground for all overseas soldiers who die in this country. Those who have died in English hospitals hitherto have generally been buried in tho parish cemetery, locally. Only in Walton has it been found practicable to reserve a special plot in the cemetery for this purpose. Mr Raymond's suggestion is that the Dominions should co-operate in procuring a large general burial ground for the interment of their soldiers who die in Great Britain, and that the scheme should also include the provision of a suitable memorial.

Tho proposal of which Mr Raymond has given notice, and which was sympathetically received by the Executive, is as follows:—"Tliat the co-operation of representatives of Australia, Canada. South Africa and Newfoundland be enlisted ivith the object of establishing near London a Onrial ground for their heroic dead who have passed away in the Motherland: the scheme to provide for the erection of a suitable monument to penpetuato the memories, not only of those interred in this hallowed ground, but those also whose restingplace is abroad."

i In introducing the.subject. Mr Raymond said he originally ,thought of limiting tho scheme to a burial ground for fallen New Zealanders, and he riad been offered all the nioncv required for thi s purpose. But. on reflection, he saw a great opportunity to centre the thoughts, sympathies, and senthnents of the.Dominions by the acquisition of a common burial ground. For had they not come together from the uttermost .parts of the Empire to do their duty nobly in the various theatres of war, had they not fought together, and died together? Then, surely,-it was fitting that in the centre of the Empire some consecrated spot should be set aside for the purpose indicated. The war had taught many lessons. It had been a grent and timely educator. The mere existence of such a cemetery near to the Metropolis would be of incalculable value in giving inspirations to many of the hundreds of thousands -who would yearly visit it. Those interested in the movement would deal in no niggard fashion in making tho cemetery worthy in every way to perpetuate the memories of those* they wished to honour and reverence.