RED CROSS WORK.

Evening Star, Issue 16257, 28 October 1916, Page 6

RED CROSS WORK.

MR B. TRIPP SPEAKS OF HIS VISIT TO EGYPT AND ENGLAND. . Members of the Dunedin committee of the Red Cross branch met in the Express Company’s building this morning to hear from Mr Bernard Tripp an account of hia inquiries into the work in Egypt and England. Miss Rattray presided! Mr Tripp said in the course of his remarks that it arus a pleasure to him to come to Dunedin, where great interest was taken in Red Cross work. He left by the Maheno Ijist April, and first came into contact with wounded soldiers at Colombo. These men had been knocked about in Mesopotamia, where at the time the hospital arrangements had practically broken down, though he believed they were now satisfactory. He left the Maheno at Suez and went on to Cairo, and rejoined the ship at Alexandria, whoro she took on wounded soldiers and started for London. There were some New Zealanders in that party, but they were mostly Australians. They appreciated the Maheno, and through their colonel sent a letter conveying their thanks for the treatment provided on the vessel by the New Zealand Government. At the time he reached Egypt there-was not a great deal of Red Cross work to bo done. Our hospitals had been moved to England. The only New Zealand institution left, was the Aotea Home,, a mile or two outside Cairo. He understood that this home was to bo kept going. It would admirably suit if it were. Our soldiers in Egypt were taken rare of in the British and Australian hospitals when such caro was needed, and when convalescent they could go to the home. Not many garments were required there now. The British and Australian - stores were fully stocked. Tho things they did want there were tinned fruit, tinned milk, and meat extract, and the men were always asking for New Zealand apples. He hoped that something would be done tins summer to send more apples to Egypt, Ho thought it could be done if they could arrange for freight. There was proper storage at both Suez and Cairo. Many comforts—lemon squash tablets and such things—could be purchased cheaper in England than here, and ho would suggest that money for that purpose be sent to the Red Cross Commissioner,

Tho Maheno landed him at Southampton, the port to which practically all the wounded go from Franco. In "his two days’ star there he was surprised at the wonderful organisation. Ships were continually arriving, and their unloading never stopped, daj; or night. Hospital trains, provided with Red Cross nurses and every necessary comfort, met these ships and distributed the wounded all over England. The New Zealanders necessarily got scattered on arrival, but they were gradually collected and sent to the New Zealand hospitals. Thero never seemed to be a hitch.

With Colonel Richardson, Sir Thomas Mackenzie, and others, he (Mr Tripp) visited these hospitals. At Brockenhurst there were three hospitals and about 1,600 beds, and more beds were now being put in At Walton-on-Thames there were 520 beds, at Codgord 550, 'at Hornchurch 725. All these places were practically under the Aew Zealand (Military, and the care our soldiers were receiving was almost unsurpassed in hospital experience. He visited the Southampton stores’ where the New Zealand Bed Cross and Lady Liverpool fund goods were received. These stores were in charge of Captain Greene. His staff met ail the ships and checked all the arriving goods, so there was no chance of things going astray. If any of our goods were not wanted they were passed on to the British Bed Cross. Each of theOverecne States hsd i!s own Red Cross Commissioner, who had n. seat on the British Bed Cross, so that if either management had too many or not enough of "a pirticular line of goods a levelling up could he effected without waste. Mr Charles Elgar, of Wnirarapa, was our Commissioner.

Thomas Mackenzie was chairman of the New Zealand War Contingent Association. Every town where there was a hospital had a committee of Indies to visit and report, so that no man was over_koked. Thero were 110 hospitals for New Zealand soldiers scattered about tho country when ho was there. In the War Contingent’ Hospital in Russell’ square tnc-ve were 200 beds, and arrangements were Trade for tho temporary accommodation or recovering men who were visiting London, at a charge of only 8d per meal. Another like establishment was set up at Salisbury.

The War Contingent Association were really doing Rod Cross work. Ho thought :t would he arranged for that body to take a title which would indicate 'that it was a sub-committee of the Order of St. John, though at present good work was being done without sjich a title.

The goods wanted were pyjamas, drawfheets, ward .slippers, socks,” blue hospital soils, and shiits with pockets and detachable collars. Ho- had been told that the New Zealand woollen roods shrank a great deal. There wero 100 many flannel tilings, and our flannel was rather too good. Many pyjamas became too small after washing. Some wero now making them of flannelette and union. The goods not wanted wore nightingales, bandages, and splints. lie d:d net 'suggest wo should stop mating bandages, hut these should be sent by only one or two guilds. Many of the cases sent Home were far too large to handle quickly and safely. Most of thorn had to h® repacked. The Dunedin cases were the nearest he saw to the proper size. Their only fault was that they were about an inch’too wide. The proper size was 12 x 24 x 14, inside measurement.

As to the bandages, to go back for a moment, they wore not now used quite so much as they used to be. Tn the firing lino men wye bands-god. of coarse; but at the hospitals 4ho mw treatment m to leavo the wounds own to the air.

Only one elans of goods should be pul in each case. The shipping note should oiways state the contents, so that OaptaJn Groove would know when he got the note what was coming, and make hi* dispositions quickly. Our people at Homo could always do with plenty of money. It should be sent to tho New Zealand Red Cross Commissioner, whose address was at the High Commissioner’s office in the Strand. Mr.nv things could thus be bought cheaper than in Now Zealand*

Mr Tlnpp excluded by savin,!; "ho waa. T&* sofasflod that the organisation in England was mo thorough that all parsons vrbo had wcrmxkd r-btives there could rost ensured that no kittor treatment was - never heard a complaint. A <nscii>B;on co>Ai>»d on various quesUocs (Mr Conn, and others taking part), and Mr Tripp was accorded a vote of thanks for liir, uldrsxs.