THE WOUNDED

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 133, 7 June 1915, Page 8

THE WOUNDED

THOSE RETURNED TO NEW ZEALAND. "The position in regard to wounded New Zealanders at the fiont," said the Hon. James Allen to-day, "is that if the men are likely to recover in time to be wanted in Gallipoli again, they go to Malta or Egypt. If they can't be dealt with there they are sent to England. The only men who arc sent to England arcs those who eventually go back to the front." Those who Would not be fit to return, added the Minister, when they become convalescent Were to be brought back to New Zealand. The Government had had no definite information yet as to when they would be able to be sent back. When the men get here, if the arrangements with existing hospitals wei'o inMiflicient, the Hon. R. lfeaton Rhodes, into whoso charge this matter had been given, would select places from ' those Under offer and equip them for the care of the wounded. Every arrangement had been made by the Public Health Department and Mr. Rhodes, in regard to existing hospitals, and there was a, good deal of room available at these institutions. They were obviously thd best places to \> hich to send the men ; they were more convenient and comfortable and the cost would be less. The public, added the Minister, must not think that the men were coming back to go into hospitals in any large numbers. They would go to their homes, if sufficiently recovered. For iasUnce, a wife of a wounded man had already written to ask that her husband be ablo to gohome so that she could nurse him ; and it > was obviously the kindest and best thing to do to allow the men to go to their homes and bo cared for. "