GOOD WORK

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3030, 17 March 1917, Page 10

GOOD WORK

' NEW ZEALAND, THE CHURCH ARMY, AND THE NAVY. ' Thero are two beds in,tho Cliuroh Army Auxiliary Hospital, Scotland, of very special interest to New Zealarid : ers. They are known'as' tho -New Zealand Bed and the Hawkc's Bay Bed, and they have a rather curious history. They came into existence and' wero supported for one year almost entirely from gifts to .what was known as tho Weber Black AVool Fund for Church Army work. The Rev. F. Whibley, then of Weber, but now' of Ormondvillo, who is hop. secretary in New Zealand of that splendid orgrihisa-' tion the Church" Army, .originated-the idea of inviting.farmers, to.make gifts of their black-wool and any odd lots they' might feel disposed. : to give, to he sold and the proceeds devoted to the maintenance .of; two b'eds/'in the C.A. Naval Auxiliary Hospital) Scotland. This hospital contains 160 beds, where sailors and officers' of the Fleet, sick or wounded, receivo every, possible attention, and New -Zealand shared in the distinction last year of providing' for two of .those bods. It takes £50 to maintain \i; bed for one year, and tho enterprise of the New Zealand secretary and tho merit of the cause in which he was working, led to gifts of wool being .forthcoming,- which on sale produced £100. So the.beds, wore provided for, and New Zealand's name became associated with the good work, and won grateful recognition from many wounded and sick sailors' laid aside from their great task of guarding our trade routes and maintaining, Britain's supremacy of the seas. Biit this year the Government-has . commandeered all the wool, and tho tap. beds aro still to bo provided for—and thero is room for more beds for the gallant sailors. At tho present time only £30 out of tho £100 required for this- year is in hand, and owing to the action of the Government as mentioned above,. Mr. Whibley . will have to turn to the public to seek subscriptions. Tho beds must bo kept, going to tho end of tho war—there can be no doubt about that, and the sooner the money is forthcoming the more comfortable everyone will feel about it. Those who would care to do something for our sailors and assist the Church Army (which is recognised to be a most efficient and. one in which every confidence is reposed) should forward their donations bit; 0 r little, as soon as possible, to the Rev. F. Whibley, Ormondvillc. It may bo of interest to know that any individual or any section of the people in any town or district of the Dominion con by raising £00, provide a bed in the hospital -for one year, and have it named as they would wish—after tlieir town, or in memory of someone, or whatever name they ehooso to give it. Thero is a chance to do something practical for the men on whose self-sacrifice, courago, and endurance our property and our whole future as a people depends.