HOMELESS

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 13, 15 January 1918, Page 8

HOMELESS

FRENCH WOMEN AND CHILDREN

NEW ZEALAND'S HELP.

The Minister of Defence, Hon. Sir James Allen, made a statement to a Post reporter to-day in regard to the establishment of a hospital at Etrambieres, in France, for the treatment of French repatries. "Theee French repartries," said the Minister, "are French women and children who have been turned out of their homes by the invading German army. !A.way back in June last -&s High Commissioner telegraphed that the London Committee of the French Bed Cross had asked him to place before the New Zealand Government and solicit their support to a scheme for the establishment of a hoapital for these repartriee. The High Commissioner informed the Government that there were over 1000 refugees arriving daily through Switzerland. He stated that the committee would be glad if New Zealand would undertake tn« equipment I'or a hospital with from 40d to 500 bed 6, and the responsibility for its maintenance for a period not exceeding two years. The equipment and running expenses for one j'ear were estimated at £12,000; and that was in addition to the usual two francs 50 cents per patient to be granted by the Government of France.

" The New Zealand Government," continued Sir James Allen, "agreed to support the establishment of this hospital on the terms of the High Commissioner's telegram, having ascertained that it would require, £4000 for equipment and £6000 a year to run the establishment; and remitted immediately £7000—being the equipment and a half-year's maintenance. At the same time they informed the High Commissioner that the women of New Zealand would be willing to supply clothing- for the women and children.

"In accordance with his latter request, Her Excellency Lady Liverpool was communicated with and conveyed the information to the ladies who are working for her society; and. a very ready response was the result. So ready was it that some set to work to gather big sums of money; and it is upon this point I want to give information to the public. "As the New Zealand Government," added the Minister,, " has equipped the hospital and is paying for its maintenance, there is no need for large sums of money to be gathered in New Zealand in connection with the Etrambrieres Hospital. What is needed is clothing for women and children; and it may be necessary to get together a small sum of money to buy material for the clothing, but nothing more than this is, I think, required, and I have so informed Lady Liverpool. I hope, therefore, that people will not set to work to gather large sums of money, ■ but will simply raise what is necessary for the material in their own districts."