N.Z. HOSPITAL

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 127, 30 May 1916, Page 8

N.Z. HOSPITAL

WOUNDED IN ENGLAND

WAR CONTINGENT ASSOCIATION

A GENERAL BURIAL GROUND

(raou our. own courespondent.)

LONDON, 21sfc April.

Since the New Zealand Hospital at Walton-on-Thames was opened last August, 742 patients have . been admitted, and there are now 176 in the institution. The major operations performed since the opening number 170, and 261 skiagram plates have been taken. Owing to the tapering off of the wounded; it was decided to close down as many wands as possible, so as to reduce the expenditure during the slack season, and the staff has been curtailed accordingly. Although there has been very little fighting lately, a few fresh cases generally trickle through each week.

Brigadier-General Richardson mado an inspection of the hospital on taking over charge of New Zealand military affairs in England. . ' ■ ■

Through the good offices of Mr. R. D. Douglas M'Lean, the hospital is now drawing its supply of meat from the stores of the Imperial Government. This arrangement ensures getting genuine New Zealand mutton and lamb of the highest grade at economical prices. Mr. Mann, of Smithfield market (formerly of Dunedin), has assisted a great deal in inspecting the supplies. COST OF MAINTENANCE. A special 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 them being rendered possible by the diminution in the number of patients. The net result will be the saving of about £400 per month. It was, of course, out oftho question to break up the medical and nursing staff during the slack season, and, moreover, the committee felt that it. would be a breach of faith to dispense for a time with the services of workers, most of them quite voluntary, who had really engaged for the term 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. _ The average cost per bed rose considerably in December and January, but this was_ due to special causes. Owing to tlie increased number of beds, tho staff had to be increased, and, moreover, as this came in the middle of winter the . expenditure on coal, gas, and electric light was very heavy.' There was also a considerable increa-se in the prices of foodstuffs and extra expense for Christmas festivities, the carriage of Red Cross goods from New Zealand, etc. The committee is, however, sanguine of being able to.carry on the hospital until 31st July (the end of the year) without exceeding the amount which has been promised by the New Zealand Government to meet the estimated deficiency— namely, £10,600. Mrs. Ruthven has been appointed by tho Entertainment Committee to act as Entertainment Sister at the Hospital, to arrange all outings and recreations for the pa-tients. It has been decided to establish a garden plot for each ward, and a competition is to be held and prizes given for the best garden. Besides 176 men in the New Zealand Hospital, there are now 91 New Zea.landers in other hospitals in England, 40 in convalescent homes, and 95 in isolation hospitals. 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. Irven W. Raymond, namely, the provision of a general burial ground for all overseas soldiers who die in this country. Those who have died in English hospitals hitherto have generally been buried in the parish cemetery, locally. Only in Walton has it been found practicable to jeserve a special plot in tlie 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. The proposal of which Mr. Raymond has given notice, and which was sympathetically received by the Executive, is as follows : — "That the co-operation of representatives of Australia, Canada, South Africa, and Newfoundland be enlisted, with the object of establishment near London a burial ground for their heroic dead who have passed away in the Motherland ; the scheme to provide for the erection of a suitable monument to perpetuate the memories, not only of those interred in this hallowed ground; but those also whose resting place is abroad." ■

• In introducing the subject, Mr. Raymond said he originally thought of limiting the scheme to a'burial ground for 'fallen New Zealanders, and he had been offered all the money required for this purpose. But on reflection, he saw a great opportunity to centre the thoughts, sympathies, and sentiments of the Dominion 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 great and'timely educator. The mere existence of such a cemetery near to the Metropolis would be of incalculable value in giving inspiration to many of the hundreds of thousands who would yearly visit it. Those interested in the movement would deal in no niggardly fashion in making the cemetery worthy in every way to perpetuate the memories of those they wished to honour and reverence.