FUNDS FOR USE ?

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 110, 5 November 1915, Page 8

FUNDS FOR USE ?

WILL THE WOUNDED BENEFIT SOON?

IN HOSPITALS OVERSEAS

NEED OF VIGOROUS ACTION.

New Zealand people have this peculiar truth for meditation: Near the hospitals of Britain, Egypt, Malta, and Mudros are folk who are eager to do all in their power for the .comfort of New Zealand's wounded soldiers, but they are sadly handicapped by very limited funds. Here in New Zealand some hundreds of thousands of pounds have been raised on behalf of wounded and sick soldiers and their dependents, but the evolution of a. system of administration is very slow. However, the Turks are not observing an armistice till New Zealand's various patriotic societies have agreed to differ or not to differ about national or provincial schemes. The Turks go on with the killing and wounding, and long lines ot New Zealanders keep going into hospitals. As an example of visible work—real, effective work for the wounded—Mr. F. Waldegrave, honorary secretary of the New Zealand War Contingent Association, writes thus to a friend in Wellington :—

" We have arranged for visiting committees to the larger hospitals, composed of New Zealand ladies or ladies interested in New Zealand. In other places visits are paid by members o£ the association, ar.d we supply delicacies such as eggs, fruit, chocolate, etc., in addition to providing articles to supplement deficiencies in kit, such as shaving tackle, stationery, cigarettes, pipes, tobacco, handkerchiefs, and so on. Also, any men who want socks or underclothing can have them free. We advise them as to where to stay in London, and arrange entertainments and motor drives. There is a great demand for New Zealand newspapers, which we supply as far as possible. Thus you will see that, so far as the wounded in this country are concerned, they are well looked after, although we have had great difficulty in getting into touch. \ " I find that our men are very pleased to meet New Zealanders, that they like being visited by New Zealanders, and that they are glad to feel that New Zealanders in England are taking an interest in them, and are wishful to be of service.

'" And this brings me to the suggestion that the New Zealand Government should appoint New Zealanciers to visit the hospitals in Egypt and Malta to.search out our own v.'ounded, talk to them (for.they are very far away from their homes-and often very lonely), find out-what: they need, and" see that they get it. I have heard, of one or two very sad cases; in which the services of a visitor such as I have suggested would.have saved needless suffering and privation."

Similarly the V.M.C.A. is making the best possible use of all funds available for. the wounded in hos-pitals of Egypt and elsewhere. Mr. James Ha.y, field sec.rete.ry, representing the New Zealand National Committee, at Zeitoun, Egypt., writes in a letter dated 15th August:—

"You will know by now that every hospital around here is simply crowded with wounded men, and! there is a vast work to be done among them. I give every spare minute I can to the hospitals, and the poor fellows need every bit of cheering up they can get. hi our camp a convalescent hospital has been established, and in a day or two there will be a thousand men there. We have already got to work among them.Ona of the- inmates of a hospital walked about a mile yesterday to dig me up, although I had only met him casually. He will probably gel a D.C.M. for liis gallantry at the Front, although he is very modest about the matter. You see we have access to all of the hospitals, a.nd there are twenty-three secretaries now working at thirteen centres—. a continuous line of Y.M.O.A. effort from Cairo to Gallipoli. To show you how the boys appreciate our efforts, they have put over £35 in a little box on my desk for the work. If T only had from £50 to £100 I could purchase many little comforts for the New Zealand boys in the hospitals. Urgent requests are being received daily to commence work in some hospitals or camps, and we cannot do it because of lack of funds."